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TANNING  LEATHER 


FACILITATED, 

BY 

DAVID  H.  KENNEDY'S 


PROCESS. 


j C.’Bn+iie 


THE  ART 


OF 

TANNING  LEATHER; 

BY 

A NEW  AND  IMPROVED  SYSTEM 

THEORETICALLY  AND  PRACTICALLY 

CONSIDERED  IN  ALL  ITS  DETAILS. 
Discovered,  and  Patented  April  14th,  1857. 

BY 

DAVID  H.  KENNEDY, 

OF 

NEW  ALEXANDRIA,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


Illustrated  with  Twenty-five  Wood  Engravings  and  a Portrait  of  the  Author. 


IShitton,  ^DJitions. 


NEW  YORK: 

BAKER  & GODWIN,  PRINTERS,  NO.  1 SPRUCE  STREET. 

ISSY. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1857,  by 
DAVID  H.  KENNEDY, 

in  the  Clerk’s  Oflice  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


LETTERS  PATENT  GRANTED 


IN 

ENGLAND,  IRELAND,  WALES,  THE  CHANNEL  ISLANDS 
AND  THE  ISLE  OF  MAN, 

On  the  4th  day  of  January,  A.  D.  1854. 


FRANCE, 

On  the  20th  day  of  February,  A.  D.  1854. 


' BELGIUM, 

On  the  27th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1854. 


THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA, 
On  the  14th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1857. 


RUSSIA  AND  SPAIN  APPLIED  FOR. 


BY 

DAVID  H.  KENNEDY, 

OF  NEW  ALBXANDBIA,  PENNSYLVANIA. 


These  directions,  when  filled  up,  are  not  to  be  left 
exposed  to  the  examination  of  such  as  may  desire  to> 
possess  themselves  of  their  secrets.  But  should,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Patentee  as  well  as  the  purchaser,  be 
strictly  kept  from  the  public  eye. 


CONTENTS. 


Preface 


Page, 

11 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTION. 

Returns  of  the  Census  of  A.  D.  1852,  showing 
the  condition  of  the  Tanning  interest 13 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  different  kinds  of  Skins  suitable  for  Tan- 
ning— Buenos  Ayres  hides — Brazilian  hides 
— Cow-hides — American  Ox-hides — Spanish 
or  South  American  dry  hides — Calcutta 
or  Nagore  hides — Calf-skins — Horse-hides — 
Goat-skins — Sheep-skins — Deer-skins — and 

the  Mode  of  Salting  hides 

1* 


37 


6 


CONTENTS. 


Page.. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Structure  and  Composition  of  tlie  Skin — Fibrine 
— Gelatine — Albumen — Animal  Matter — 
Tannic  Acid  uniting  with  Gelatine  and 
forming  Leather 59 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Soaking,  Softening,  and  Washing  Hides — An 
Illustration,  with  a Description  of  the  Hide- 
mill  and  Washing-machine 69 

CHAPTER  V. 

Composition  No.  1. 

For  removing  Hair,  Wool,  Grease,  Mucus,  and 
other  impurities  from  the  Skins — An  Illus- 
tration, with  a full  description  of  the  Beam- 
house 81 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Bating. 

Reducing  the  Skins  to  their  Original  Thick- 


ness 


91 


CONTENTS. 


7 


Page. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Properties  of  the  Ingredients  used  in  the 
Composition  for  Tanning — Their  effects  upon 
the  Hides — Tlie  Places  of  Production — The 
New  York  Prices 95 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Com2)osition  No.  2. 

For  Tanning — The  proper  proportions  of  In- 
gredients, with  full  and  clear  Directions  for 
using  them — A Description  of  the  Bark- 
ometer 109 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Example. 

Tanning  one  hundred  common-sized  Calf-skins,  121 

CHAPTER  X. 

Example. 

Tanning  thirty  Ox-hides  for  the  Manufacture 
of  Patent  Leather — The  Handling-house, 
with  Notes — Splitting-machine 133 


8 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

CHAPTER  XL 
Example. 

Tanning  fifty  sides  of  Sole-leather 149 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Currying  and  Finishing  Leather — Shaving 
Harness  Leather — Blacked  Bridle — Russet 
Bridle  — Horse  Leather — Wax  Leather — 
Grained  Leather — Patent  Leather 167 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Texture  and  Quality  of  Leather 185 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Remarks  on  Tanning — Illustration  of  Clinton 
Tannery,  with  Notes 195 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Mechanics'  True  Position. 

A Word  of  Cheer  to  the  Hearty  Tanner 217 


CONTENTS. 


9 


Page. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  Tanners*  Cheer.. 

Illustrated  by  a Party  of  Tanners  Singing  tlie 
words  to  the  tune  of  the  Marseillaise  Hymn,  243 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Copy  of  Patent  granted,  in  the  United  States, 
on  the  14th  day  of  April,  185*7 249 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


Copy  of  Specification  of.  Patent 


253 


l>  KEFACE. 


The  following  directions  Lave  been 
prepared  expressly  for  information  as  to 
the  ]n*actical  ai’>plication  of  scientific 
principles  which  characterize  the  pro- 
gi’ess  of  the  improvement,  and  are 
offered  to  that  ]^ortion  of  the  public 
which  is  interested  in  the  leather  and 
tanning  business. 

Like  every  other  art,  that  of  tanning 
has  lately  made  great  progress  towards 
perfection.  Ingenious  and  practical  men 
have  devoted  their  energies  to  actual 
ex]ieriments,  and  chemical  agencies  have 
been  employed  with  varied  success. 


12 


PREFACE. 


until,  at  length,  the  desideratum  seems 
to  have  been  attained,  which  affords  a 
new  and  complete  substitute  for  the 
manufacturing  of  all  kinds  of  leather. 
This  must  soon  give  it  a world-wide 
celebrity,  and  entitle  it  to  the  attention 
of  all  concerned  in  the  leather  business. 
The  Patentee,  Mr.  K.,  takes  great  pleas- 
ure in  giving  a comprehensive  descrip- 
tion of  the  different  preparations  for 
using  the  improvement ; and  I subscribe 
my  hearty  good  wishes  for  the  success  of 
the  invention  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
curing the  desired  information.  Inqui- 
ries have  been  directed  to  the  consulta- 
tion of  Sir  Humphrey  Davy,  Professors 
Turner  and  Ure,  and  several  other  cele- 
brated authors.  In  this  way  the  author 
has  obtained  the  most  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  chemistry  of  tanning,  and 
for  giving  a full  and  comprehensive 
treatise  on  changing  hides  into  leather. 


CHAPTER  I. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  art  of  tanning  is  that  l)y  which 
animal  skins  are  converted  into  leather^ 
a product  differing  entirely  from  that 
of  the  raw  material,  and  adapting  it 
to  the  useful  purpose  for  which  it  is 
employed.  The  properties  imparted  are 
of  a physical  nature,  and  vary  with  the 
kind  of  skin  emj^loyed  and  the  modifica- 
tions of  the  process  which  it  undergoes. 
Chemically  considered,  however,  leather 
is  a definite  compound  of  tannin  and 
gelatin.  Tanning,  as  an  art,  dates  as 


14 


INTRODUCTION. 


far  back  as  nine  hundred  years  before 
Christ.  The  methods  resorted  to  in 
early  times  consisted  of  little  more 
than  merely  cleansing  and  drying  the 
skins;  and,  thus  prepared,  the  latter 
were  used  for  clothing,  &c.  Leather 
was  largely  in  use  among  the  ancient 
Egyptians,  and  the  workers  of  that 
material  were  so  numerous  that  the 
Memnonian  quarter,  Thebes,  was  charac- 
terized as  their  especial  locality.  Their 
skill  in  fashioning  it  was  so  great  that 
ornaments  of  all  shapes  and  devices 
were  made  from  it.  Leather  was  made' 
by  them  into  tapestry,  and  many  of  the 
Egyptian  tombs  bear  representations  of 
artificers  in  leather  engaged  in  the 
several  liranches  of  their  vocation. 

The  principal  steps  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  leather  are  the  washing  and 
soaking,  for  the  purpose  of  cleaning  and 
softening  the  skins,  and  preparing  them 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


for  the  removal  of  the  hair.  This  is 
effected  by  tlie  use  of  lime,  or  other 
substances  which  destroy,  dissolve,  or 
soften  the  bulbous  roots  of  the  hair, 
and  thus  facilitate  its  removal  by 
mere  mechanical  scraping  with  a blunt- 
edged  knife.  During  this  part  of  the 
process,  another  important  end  is  gen- 
erally acconi])lished  in  the  swelling  of 
the  tissues  and  their  prej)arations  for 
the  more  comjdete  and  easy  absorjition 
of  the  tanning  principle.  The  primitive 
mode  of  removing  the  hair  was  that  of 
shaving  it  ott*  with  a knife ; but  the  use 
of  lime  was  known  even  among  the 
early  Egyptians.  When  the  rationale 
of  depilation  is  better  understood  by 
practical  tanners,  the  slow  and  incon- 
venient process  of  depilation  by  means 
of  lime  must  give  place  to  more  effective, 
rapid,  and  economical  methods.  In 
later  times,  these  defects  were  remedied 


16 


INTRODUCTION^. 


by  immersing  the  cleansed  and  de- 
haired  skin  in  an  infusion  of  oak  bark 
or  solution  of  alum,  and  thus,  by  eiffect- 
ing  a union  between  one  or  more  con- 
stituents of  tbe  liquor  and  a gelatinous 
tissue  of  tbe  skin,  producing  a new 
compound  with  desirable  properties. 
The  principles  governing  this  reaction 
have  been,  in  more  recent  days,  devel- 
oped by  the  investigations  of  Proust, 
Deyeaux,  McBride,  and  Sir  Humphrey 
Davy ; and  it  is  owing  to  the  researches 
of  these  inquirers  that  the  occupation  of 
the  tanner  has  been  elevated  from  the 
condition  of  an  empirical  pursuit  to  that 
of  an  art  based  upon  scientific  princi- 
ples. Many  improvements  in  the  art 
have  been  made  by  the  aid  of  inge- 
niously contrived  machinery,  and  much 
has  been  done  to  hasten  the  process  of 
tanning. 

Tanning  consists  in  the  combination  of 


INTRODUCTION. 


17 


the  gelatinous  tissue  with  tannin  by  im- 
mersing the  skins  in  an  infusion  of  oak 
bark  or  other  substances  containing 
tannin.  The  tanning  inHuence  is  prolia- 
bly  not  exerted  solely  by  the  tannin^ 
but  also  partly  by  the  extractive  matter, 
more  or  less  of  which  always  exists  in 
the  tanning  material. 

During  the  soaking,  the  epidermis  of 
the  skins  disappears,  and  the  tissue  of 
the  latter  is  gelatinized,  and  thus  predis- 
posed to  chemical  union  with  the  tannin. 
This  gelatinization  of  the  tissues  is  all- 
essential, and  is  promoted  by  the  gallic 
acid  fermentation  of  the  tanning  mate- 
rial. This  is  the  more  probable  science. 
The  same  effect  may  be  produced  hj 
the  use  of  a very  dilute  acetic,  and 
other  operations  intended  to  perfect  the 
quality  and  appearance  of  the  leather. 
Leather  is  employed  for  many  useful 

and  ornamental  purposes  ; and  numerous 
2* 


18 


INTRODUCTION. 


are  its  applications  to  various  brandies 
of  industry.  Besides  its  extensive  use 
for  covering  the  head  and  feet,  wearing 
apparel,  saddles,  harness,  carriages,  and 
the  purposes  of  the  book-binder,  it  is 
largely  employed  for  the  embellishment 
of  objects  of  taste  and  ornament.  In- 
dependently of  the  direct  importance 
of  the  leather  trade,  it  exerts  a very 
decided  incidental  influence  in  devel- 
oping the  resources  of  a country,  by 
giving  value  to  certain  materials  used 
in  and  resulting  from  its  manufacture. 
Besides  the  immense  employment  which 
it  gives  to  thousands  of  artisans,  it  has 
built  up  colonies  and  towns,  which  owe 
their  origin  and  progress  entirely  to  the 
interests  connected  with  it.  Even  the 
waste  materials  of  slaughter-houses,  tan- 
neries, curriers’  shops  and  workers  in 
leather,  have  important  applications — 
the  horns  serving  for  the  manufacture 


INTRODUCTION. 


19 


of  combs,  buttons,  and  umbrella  furni- 
ture ; the  hair  for  plastering ; the  spent 
lime  for  the  farmer;  the  skin-clippings 
for  the  glue-boiler ; and  the  leather 
shavings  for  the  manufacturer  of  prus- 
siate  of  potash.  The  following  state- 
ments will  give  an  idea  of  the  vast 
extent  and  rapid  increase  of  the  trade 
in  leather. 

In  France — a country  eminent  for  the 
quantity  and  quality  of  the  leather 
which  it  produces — the  average  number 
of  skins  annually  converted  into  leather 
is  about  three  millions  of  whole  skins, 
exclusive  of  sheep  and  calf  skins.  In 
the  United  States,  the  manufacture  of 
leather  is  only  beginning  to  be  of  much 
importance.  Since  the  early  part  of 
the  present  century  it  has  been  rapidly 
extended,  until  it  has.  become,  with  its 
allied  and  dependent  arts,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  elements  of  national 


20 


INTRODUCTION. 


prosperity.  This  improved  system  is 
conducted  in  the  most  simple  and  primi- 
tive manner.  The  expenditure  both  of 
time  and  labor  is  now  materially  re- 
duced by  the  different  modes  and 
treatment  of  the  process.  The  unpar- 
alleled success  which  has  attended  the 
introduction  of  the  patent  process  set 
forth  in  this  work,  and  the  flattering 
encomiums  bestowed  upon  the  direc- 
tions given  in  a former  edition,  induce 
me  to  extend  them  a little  farther, 
hoping  they  will  be  understood  by  all 
those  who  will  avail  themselves  of  this 
improved  system  for  the  manufacture  of 
leather. 

I have  extended  the  information  in 
this,  the  third  edition  of  directions,  and 
hope  that  my  fellow-tanners  will  read 
them  with  a generous  allowance  for  the 
imperfect  style  in  which  they  are  given ; 
hoping,  also,  that  they  will  keep  in 


INTRODUCTION. 


21 


mind  that  they  are  not  fiction,  but  sober 
truths,  intended  expressly  for  the  appli- 
cation of  the  process. 

For  some  time  past  my  whole  time 
and  attention  have  been  given  exclu- 
sively to  the  introduction  of  this  pro- 
cess, believing  from  the  first  that  its 
merits  would,  in  time,  bring  it  into 
general  use,  which  is  now  acknowledged 
to  be  a fixed  fact  by  those  most  con- 
versant with  it.  Its  general  adoption 
is  now  only  a cpiestion  of  time ; for  as 
fast  as  it  becomes  known  it  is  adopted. 
This  being  the  case,  I wish  to  give  all 
the  information  I can  respecting  the 
manner  and  different  methods  of  using 
it.  To  those  tanners  who  have  adopted 
and  seen  fit  to  recommend  this  new 
process  for  tanning  leather,  I return  my 
sincere  thanks,  and  assure  them  that 
their  kindness  to  me,  and  approbation 
of  the  improvement,  will  not  be  for- 
gotten. 


22 


INTRODUCTION. 


We  append  a statistical  table,  com- 
piled from  the  returns  of  the  seventh 
census,  showing  the  condition  of  the 
tanning  interest. 

The  National  Intelligencer  compiles, 
from  the  census  returns,  the  following 
table  of  the  tanneries  in  the  United 
States,  in  A.  D.  1850  : 

No.  of  establishments,  . . 9,263 

Capital  invested,  . . . $18,900,557 

Value  of  raw  material,  . 19,613,237 

Value  of  product,  . . . 32,861,796 

The  number  of  hides  is  6,128,070; 
skins,  2,653,865  ; and  about  6,000,000 
sheep,  goat,  and  other  small  skins  tan- 
ned and  dressed  annually,  which  are  not 
included  in  the  number.  The  number 
of  hands  employed  is  20,909  males  and 
102  females.  The  monthly  wages  of 
the  males  amount  to  $416,214 ; of  the 
females,  $970.  The  number  of  sides  of 


INTRODUCTION. 


23 


leather  produced  annually,  is  12,557,940, 
and  of  skins,  2,653,865. 

The  foregoing  estimates  were  care- 
fully compiled  from  the  returns  of  the 
seventh  census,  for  the  National  Intel- 
ligencer, and  may  be  considered  correct. 

Leather  forms  one  of  the  heaviest 
items  aniong  tlie  staples  of  American 
merchandise,  and  the  demands  for  it 
are  daily  increasing,  in  addition  to  its 
extensive  employment  for  tlie  embel- 
lishment of  objects  of  taste  and  orna- 
ment. 

If  we  take  it  for  granted  that  the 
leatlier  trade  has  advanced  in  amount 
at  the  rate  of  10  per  cent,  per  annum, 
for  the  last  seven  years,  the  figures 
should  now  stand  thus  : 

Amount  of  capital  in- 
vested, ....  $32,030,946  90 

Value  of  raw  material,  33,342,502  90 
Value  of  product,  . . 55,865,053  20 


24 


INTRODUCTION. 


These  calculations  may  fall  short  of, 
but  it  is  believed  that  they  do  not 
exceed,  the  truth.  They  may  at  least 
serve  to  indicate  the  vast  extent  and 
rapid  increase  of  the  leather  trade  in 
this  country.  But  what  must  it  be  a 
quarter  of  a century  hence  ? 

At  the  present  rate  of  increase,  we 
may  fairly  calculate  that  in  twenty-five 
years  hence  the  tanning  and  currying 
business  will  have  teipled,  thus  placing 
it  almost  in  the  van  of  all  domestic 
manufactures.  A business  of  such  ex- 
tent and  imjDortance,  well  deserves  the 
attention  of  the  manufacturer,  for  what- 
ever abridges  and  facilitates  the  process, 
adds  to  the  value  of  the  capital  invested. 

The  claims  of  this  Patent  are  reason- 
able and  philosophical.  Tanning  is 
wholly  a chemical  process,  converting 
hides  into  leather.  The  perfection  of 
the  results  of  this  process,  depends  not 


INTRODUCTION. 


25 


SO  much  upon  the  energy  and  proper 
combination  of  such  astringent  proper- 
ties and  chemicals  as  are  employed  to 
effect  it.  The  more  rapid  the  action  of 
these  agents,  and  the  ([uicker  their 
work  is  done,  the  more  perfect  is  the 
article  manufactured.  This  is  the  doc- 
trine of  the  improvement  set  forth 
in  this  work ; and  its  correctness,  econ- 
omy, and  great  utility,  we  are  ready  to 
submit  to  the  scrutiny  of  science  and 
the  test  of  the  most  thorough  experi- 
ment. 

The  leather  manufactured  by  this 
process  is  of  a finer  texture,  softer,  sus- 
ceptible of  a higher  finish,  less  porous, 
more  pliable,  stronger,  heavier,  and  more 
durable  than  leather  tanned  in  the  ordi- 
nary way.  The  quality  of  the  material 
itself — which  any  man  may  examine — 
and  its  use  and  trial  for  years,  authorize 
these  high  claims.  They  are  announced 


26 


INTRODUCTION. 


to  the  public  with  the  most  implicit 
confidence  in  their  accuracy  and  relia- 
bility. 

We  respectfully  invite  particular  at- 
tention to  the  following  statements  : — • 

The  numerous  and  great  advantages 
of  this  improvement,  both  to  the  manu- 
facturer and  to  the  consumer,  are  mat- 
ters on  which  the  most  satisfactory 
information  may  be  obtained. 

The  adoption  of  this  process  by  every 
tanner  in  the  United  States  is  practic- 
able. It  consists  chiefiy  in  the  applica- 
tion of  a proper  compound  or  combina- 
tion of  certain  chemicals  to  the  usual 
bark,  liquors  or  other  astringent  prop- 
erties, possessing  tannin,  thereby  caus- 
ing a much  more  rapid  advancement  in 
the  tanning  of  leather  than  is  or  can  be 
produced  by  the  ordinary  process.  It 
requires  no  new  fixtures  or  expensive 
outlay.  After  the  hides  are  tanned  by 


INTRODUCTION. 


27 


this  process,  the  scouring,  stuffing,  oil- 
ing, blackening,  and  hnishing  are  con- 
ducted as  they  ever  have  been. 

This  improvement  will  be  found  of 
great  general  economy  and  utility.  A 
correct  knowledge ’of  it  must  secure  its 
universal  adoption.  The  following  facts 
sustain  this  conclusion: — Many  of  the 
most  experienced,  scientitic,  and  enlight- 
ened tanners  and  other  artisans  con- 
nected with  the  manufacture  or  sale  of 
leather,  have  certified  to  the  superior 
excellence  of  the  leather  manufactured 
by  this  process,  as  possessing  all  the  es- 
sential properties  requisite  for  beauty 
and  utility.  We  believe  a similar  opin- 
ion is  entertained  by  all  who  have  care- 
fully examined  the  leather,  and  who  are 
competent  to  form  a correct  judgment 
of  the  article  manufactured. 

To  capitalists,  and  especially  to  those 
who  have  invested  large  amounts  of 


28 


INTRODUCTION. 


money  in  the  manufacture  of  leather, 
the  following  estimates,  showing  the 
difference  in  the  expense  of  tanning,  be- 
tween the  old  method  and  this  patent 
process  of  tanning,  will  be  interesting : — 

ONE  year’s  work  BY  THE  OLD  METHOD. 

To  present  this  matter  so  as  it  may 
be  readily  comprehended  by  those  doing 
a small  business,  we  will  exhibit  it  on  a 
a small  scale.  Under  the  old  method 
of  tanning  with  bark,  two  men  will  tan 
and  finish  4,000  sides  of  sole  leather  in 
one  year.  Their  wages,  at  $30  per 
month,  will  be  $720;  the  sides,  in  the 
raw  and  dry  state,  will  weigh  on  an 
average,  11  lbs.  per  side,  making  44,000 
lbs. ; at  32  cents  per  lb.,  they  will  cost 
$14,080;  they  will  consume  270  cords 
of  oak  bark,  at  $7  per  cord,  making 
$1,890  ; rent  of  tan-yard,  $150,  interest 
on  hides,  $844  80;  interest  on  bark, 


INTRODUCTION. 


29 


$113  40; 'whole  cost  when  finished,  is 
$17,798  20.  The  4,000  sides  of  leather 
will  weigh  on  an  average,  16  lbs.  per 
side,  making  64,000  lbs.  At  32  cents 
per  lb.  they  would  bring  $20,480,  afford- 
ing a net  gain  of  $2,681  80  for  one 
year’s  tanning  on  the  old  system. 

ONE  YEAK’s  -WOKK  BY  THIS  NEW 
PKOCESS. 

Under  this  patented  improved  system 
of  tanning,  one  man  will  tan  and  finish 

4.000  sides  in  one  year.  At  $30  per 
month,  his  wages  will  be  $360  ; the  sides 
will  weigh  on  an  average  in  the  raw 
and  dry  state,  11  lbs.  per  side,  making. 

44.000  lbs. ; at  32  cents  per  lb.  they 
will  cost  $14,080 ; they  will  consume 
135  cords  of  bark  at  $7  per  cord,  mak- 
ing $945,  and  chemicals  to  the  amount 
of  $600 ; rent  of  tan-yard,  $150 ; the 

interest  on  the  hides  for  six  months,  will 
8* 


30 


INTRODUCTION. 


be  $422  40  ; the  interest  on  the  chemi- 
cals will  be  $18  ; the  interest  on  the 
bark  will  be  $28  35 ; making  the 
whole  cost  of  tanning  4,000  sides  under 
this  system,  only  $16,243  75.  The 
weight  of  the  4,000  sides  when  finished, 
will  be,  on  an  average,  17  lbs.  per  side, 
making  68,000  lbs.  of  leather — a gain  in 
weight  of  4,000  lbs.  over  those  tanned 
by  the  old  method  at  32  cents  per  lb. ; 
— the  whole  would  bring  $21,7 60.  The 
net  gain  is  $5,516  25.  Showing  an 
advantage  over  the  old  method  of  tan- 
ning in  one  year,  even  on  this  limited 
scale,  of  $2,834  45  ; besides,  the  leather 
tanned  by  this  process  has  a brighter 
color,  more  the  appearance  of  oak-tan- 
ned leather,  and  commands  a higher 
price  in  the  market. 

The  above  is  a clear  and  accurate  cal- 
culation of  the  cost  of  tanning,  both 
with  this  process  and  the  old  method, 


INTRODUCTION. 


31 


and  the  result  makes  its  own  appeal  to 
the  good  sense  of  all  who' are  anywise 
interested  in  the  profits  arising  from 
leather.  Tanners  ! see  you  not  that  if 
so  much  can  be  saved  by  applying  this 
patent  process  to  tanning  on  so  diminu- 
tive a scale,  that  the  ratio  of  profit 
would  be  vastly  increased  by  employ- 
ing it  on  a more  extended  plan  ? You 
are  invited  to  investigate  this  matter. 
If,  on  examination,  you  find  that  a sub- 
stantial saving  of  even  ten  or  fifteen  per 
cent,  can  be  made  on  a year’s  business 
by  adopting  this  new  process,  you  wiU 
not  fail  to  see  where  your  interest  leads 
you ; for  ten  per  cent,  over  and  above 
your  accustomed  profits  would,  in  a few 
years,  secure  for  you  an  independent 
fortune. 

It  is  plain  that  the  advantages  of  this 
mode  of  tanning,  even  to  one  who  tans 
only  sole  leather  on  a small  scale,  are 


32 


INTRODUCTION. 


very  great ; and  to  those  who  find  it 
difficult  to  obtain  the  usual  quantity  of 
bark,  it  will  be  invaluable.  Where 
bark  is  plenty  and  can  be  obtained  at  a 
small  cost,  it  also  is  valuable,  for  only 
one-half  the  usual  quantity  of  bark  will 
be  found  necessary.  By  adopting  this 
method  then,  the  tanner  who  consumes 
1,000  cords  of  bark  per  year,  will  re- 
quire only  500  cords  ; a saving  at  once 
of  from  $1,600  to  $2,000  on  bark  alone, 
in  one  year. 

A brief  summary  of  the  advantages 
of  this  patent  process  of  tanning,  may  be 
stated  thus : 

Hides  or  skins  can  be  tanned  at  much 
less  expense  than  by  the  usual  method. 
Common  size  • calf,  sheep,  goat,  deer,  or 
other  similar  skins,  can  be  tanned  in 
from  four  to  twelve  days,  at  an  expense 
of  from  fifty  cents  to  one  dollar  and 
fifty  cents  per  dozen.  Heavier  leather. 


INTRODUCTION. 


33 


such  as  kip,  upper,  bridle,  skirting, 
harness,  and  sole  leather,  can  be  tanned 
in  from  twenty  to  ninety  days,  with  a 
proportionate  increase  of  expense,  ac- 
cording to  the  thickness  of  the  hide  and 
strength  of  liquoi*s  used.  . 

The  liquors  used  in  this  process  are 
in  all  cases  applied  to  the  hides  or  skins 
only  in  a cold  state,  and  the  leather 
manufactured  by  it  has  been  found  to 
possess  more  pliability,  greater  strength 
and  durability,  and  a much  larger  in- 
crease of  weight.  It  forms  a finer  tex- 
ture, and  gives  it  a handsomer  bloom, 
and  consequently  finishes  much  better ; 
thereby  rendering  it  more  impervious  to 
water  than  leather  tanned  by  the  old 
method. 

The  whole  process  can  be  learned  by 
any  tanner  in  a very  short  time. 

The  apparatus  and  the  different  stages 
of  the  process  of  tanning,  are  the  same 


34 


INTRODUCTION. 


or  similar  to  the  usual  method ; but 
capable,  in  fitting  a new  establishment, 
of  being  more  compactly  arranged,  and 
at  much  less  expense. 

It  requires  less  room  or  space  to 
carry  on  the  business. 

Parties  wishing  to  satisfy  themselves 
on  any  point  named  in  this  or  any  other 
chapter  of  this  work  on  which  it  is 
proper  to  give  general  information, 
are  invited  to  call  on  the  patentee 
or  his  agent,  and  examine  the  sys- 
tem in  its  practical  operations,  see  the 
leather  manufactured,  and  witness  ex- 
periments which  they  are  prepared  to 
make  at  any  time,  for  the  purpose  of 
illustrating  and  corroborating  the  claims 
of  this  patent,  for  which  letters  were 
granted  on  the  14th  day  of  April,  1857. 


'r  ‘'4 

■ ,>'v>- -,>., -iv>- 


I*" . 


V/  <.• 


l5tu  r ‘4?''IuJ;l  .»; '^CJjLiU  . 

Ir'.f-  ‘ * '-.  ■'*.  . » 


> 


• a %\f^\  • 


•■f  >>.V!  i'  r'* 


J;^Wfi»>n  >34.  '5^  • -•  • . , 


52^4  '■&"  ' • » .*  'i,  ' . ^ ” 

■<lLi'  ^ ' ■ *<W  : ^ I./  ‘ ^‘ -'  •-■  i*  ' 


IV.  ?/v.'!_t;S<*r‘f ll*  •'. 


NATIVES  IN  SEARCH  OF  WII.Il  CATTLE  IN  THE  TERRITOKA'  OF  IJKAZIL. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  HIDES  SUITAI5LE  FOR  TANNING. 

The  hides  and  skins  retain  their 
original  name  until  they  have  been  sub- 
jected to  the  treatment  of  the  various 
processes  they  have  to  undergo  before 
they  become  leather.  The  quality  of 
leather  depends  not  only  upon  the 
nature  of  the  skin  and  the  mode  of 
tanning  it,  but  upon  the  result  of 
numerous  minor  details,  which  require 
especial  care  and  attention.  Skins  from 
large  cattle  are  best,  provided  they  are 
not  thin  and  flabby,  for  such  will  make 


38 


HIDES  SUITABLE 


only  inferior  leather.  Those  from  cattle 
slaughtered  in  the  colder  months  give 
five  per  cent,  more  leather  than  hides 
taken  in  summer.  The  nature  of  the 
food  and  state  of  the  animal’s  health, 
also,  have  an  influence  upon  the  quality 
of  the  hide.  For  the  production  of 
forty  pounds  of  leather,  there  are 
required,  on  an  average,  twenty-five 
pounds  of  dry  hide,  fifty-six  pounds  of 
salted  hide,  or  seventy  pounds  of 
marked  hide. 


SPANISH,  OR  WILD  BULLOCK. 


Buenos  Ayres  hides  are  taken  from 
the  wild  cattle  which  are  run  down  by 
hunters.  After  being  removed  from 


FOR  TANNING. 


39 


the  carcass  they  are  .spread  upon  the 
ground,  with  the  flesh  side  uppermost, 
and  left  exposed  to  the  sun  and  air  until 
dry.  To  prevent  shrinking,  the  hides 
are  kept  stretched  by  means  of  wooden 
pegs  driven  through  the  corners  into 
the  earth. 

One  of  these  cattle,  a Spanish  bul- 
lock of  the  largest  size,  is  before  repre- 
sented ; and  also  the  natives  or  hunters 
in  search  of  wild  cattle  are  represented 
])y  a wood  engraving  in  front  of  this 
chapter. 

Brazilian  hides  are  nearly  all  slaugh- 
tered in  the  ordinary  manner.  It  would 
be  greatly  to  the  interest  of  the  tanner, 
and  would  save  him  much  annoyance,  if 
all  hides  were  imported  in  a green 
state : that  is,  merely  salted ; for,  when 
dry,  it  is  very  difficult  even  for  the 
most  experienced  to  detect  many  de- 
fects which  would  impair  the  quality  of 


40 


HIDES  SUITABLE 


the  leather  into  which  they  are  to  be 
converted.  The  large  ox  hides  are  the 
ones  chiefly  used  for  conversion  into 
sole  leather ; for  cow  skins,  though  of 
denser  structure,  are  rather  too  thin  for 
this  purpose,  and  are,  therefore,  reserved 
for  making  saddler’s  leather.  This  re- 
mark applies  only  to  the  hides  of  old 
cows  that  have  repeatedly  calved. 


OLD  COW. 


These  are  weak  and  distended,  but 
often  tan  well,  and  make  good  harness 
leather,  and  sometimes  make  a very 
good  quality  of  upper  ’’.eather.  The 


FOR  TANNING. 


41 


hides  of  heifers,  on  the  contrary,  are 
equal,  if  not  superior,  to  those  of 
oxen. 

Bull  hides,  on  the  other  hand,  are  the 
least  esteemed  for  making  good  leather, 
being  thinner  and  more  flabby  than 
those  of  either  oxen  or  cows. 


AMERICAN  FAT  WORKING  OX. 


A well-fed,  moderately-worked  ox, 
when  slaughtered  in  a healthy  condi- 
tion, will  naturally  yield  a hide  of 
normal  quality ; but  if  sick,  lean,  or 
deficient  in -hair  at  the  time  of  being 
killed,  then  the  hide  is  not  adapted  for 
making  good  leather.  Should  the  ani- 
mal die  suddenly  by  accident,  without 


42 


HIDES  SUITABLE 


being  in  a diseased  condition,  the 
quality  of  the  hide  is  not  thereby 
impaired.  The  hides  from  unhealthy 
bullocks  or  horses  present  a decided 
difference  from  those  of  the  same  ani- 
mals slaughtered  in  a sound  condition. 
This  difference  is  not  distinguishable 
by  any  very  evident  characteristic, 
though  it  seldom  escapes  the  sagacity 
of  an  experienced  tanner.  There  are 
no  definite  rules  for  estimating  the 
quality  of  hides.  If  a skin  is  free  from 
any  defects,  and  has  sufi&cient  strength 
and  thickness,  with  body  and  firmness, 
then  it  may  be  presumed  that  it  will 
tan  well  and  make  good  leather. 

A skin  presenting  the  opposite  charac- 
teristics— ^that  is,  flabby,  soft,  thin,  weak, 
and  will  not  bear  handling — should  not 
be  considered  reliable.  These  signs,  how- 
ever, are  not  always  unerring,  for  anom- 
alous cases  frequently  occur.  Indeed, 


FOR  TANNING. 


43 


it  may  sometimes  liappeu  tliat  the  hides 
from  a diseased  carcass,  differing  in 
appearance  from  the  rest,  will  produce 
excellent  leather. 

As  the  skins  could  not  be  kept  any 
length  of  time  in  a fresh  state  without 
being  injured  by  putrefaction  ; and  as  it 
Avould  be  impossible  to  transfer  them  as 
soon  as  slaughtered  to  the  tan  vats,  they 
are  jireserved  unaltered  by  salting  or 
drying  them.  The  country  luitchers 
stretch  them  out  in  drying-lofts  or  in 
the  shade,  while  those  in  the  city  gen- 
erally salt  them.  In  the  sale  of  unsalted 
green  hides  there  are  certain  reprehensi- 
ble frauds  which  it  is  difficult  to  pro- 
vide against.  For  instance,  not  only 
are  the  horns,  ears,  and  other  less  valua- 
ble parts  left  upon  the  skin,  but  some 
butchers,  in  order  still  further  to 
increase  its  weight,  beds  the  animal 
before  slaughtering  in  filth  and  mire. 


4# 


44 


HIDES  SUITABLE 


and  then,  after  skinning  it,  trail  the 
hide  on  the  dusty  ground. 

Domestic,  slaughtered,  and  heavy 
hides  are  converted  into  sole,  belt,  and 
harness  leather.  The  very  largest  are 
selected  and  enameled  for  carriage  tops. 
The  smaller  and  lighter  ones  are  used 
for  skirting  and  bridle  leather.  In  the 
old  method  they  have  to  undergo  a 
bleaching  process,  termed  fair  finish^ 
which  is  avoided  in  this  process  of 
tanning.  The  smaller  hides  are  some- 
times converted  into  upper^  and  also  for 
enameling  and  japanning,  termed  patent 
leather^  when  intended  for  shoes.  The 
hides  from  the  northern  latitudes  are 
preferable  to  those  from  the  south. 
Hides  from  the  extreme  south  are  par- 
ticularly objectionable  for  conversion 
into  leather.  Those  from  California, 
when  free  from  the  defects  caused  by 
unskillful  skinning,  are  of  good  quality, 


FOR  TANNING. 


45 


and  will  tan  well  and  make  good 
leather. 


SPANISH  BULLOCK. 


Spanish  or  South  American  dry  hides 
are  generally  converted  into  sole  leather 
and  occasionally  into  belt  leather. 
Those  imported  in  the  green  and  salted 
state  are  sometimes  made  into  upper 
leather,  which  is  of  fair  quality. 

African  hides  from  the  west  coast 
make  good  uppers ; but  they  are  largely 
used  in  their  raw  state  for  covering  hair 
trunks.  Madagascar  hides  are  good 
when  perfect,  which  is  rarely  the  case, 
as  *they  are  liable  to  injury  during 
curing  transit. 

The  hides  of  the  neat  yearlings  go 
into  calf  skins.  Of  these  latter,  there 


46 


HIDES  SUITABLE 


are  “patna”  kips,  and  common  calf  for 
bookbinders.  The  patna  kips  are  very 
inferior,  though  frequently  sold  as  “ Cal- 
cutta kips.” 


CALCUTTA,  OR  NAGORE  BULLOCK. 


Calcutta  oe  Nagoee  Cattle. — These 
cattle  grow  to  a very  large  size,  and  are 
used  in  India  by  the  higher  orders  to 
draw  their  state  carriages,  and  are  much 
valued  for  their  size,  speed,  and  endur- 
ance, and  sell  at  very  high  prices.  They 
will  travel,  with  a rider  on  their  back, 
fifteen  or  sixteen  hours  a day,  at  the 
rate  of  six  miles  an  hour.  Their  action 
is  particularly  fine.  The  Nagore  cattle 


FOR  TANNING. 


47 


bring  their  hind  legs  under  them  in  as 
straight  a line  as  the  horse.  They  are 
very  active,  and  can  clear  a five-barred 
gate  with  the  greatest  ease. 

Hides  from  Calcutta  or  Nagore  cattle 
have  the  distinctive  property  of  greater 
weight,  and,  when  perfectly  tanned, 
make  a superior  quality  of  leather. 
Tanners  have  undertaken  to  tan  them, 
but  failed  in  the  experiment  and  pro- 
nounced the  hides  worthless. 

I,  at  one  time,  for  an  experiment, 
tanned  six  dozen  of  Calcutta  kip  skins, 
in  the  space  of  fourteen  days,  by  this 
process  of  tanning ; and  the  leather  pro- 
duced was  of  a very  handsome  quality. 
They  were  pronounced  to  be  a superior 
article  of  leather  by  some  of  the  best 
judges  and  most  experienced  leather 
manufacturers.  One  dozen  of  those 
skins  were  taken  to  the  State  fair  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  were  awarded  the 


48 


HIDES  SUITABLE 


first  premium  for  being  the  best  leather 
on  exhibition.  These  kips  sold  at  an 
advance  price  of  fifteen  per  cent,  in  the 
Philadelphia  market. 

Hides  from  the  largest  of  these  cattle 
are  best  suited  for  making  good  leather, 
being  strong  and  heavy,  provided  they 
have  not  undergone  any  injury  during 
the  importation. 

A few  kips  come  from  South  Amer- 
ica, and  some  from  England  and  Ireland. 
The  supplies  of  the  tanneries  are  mostly 
domestic  skins. 


CALF  READY  FOR  SLAUGHTERING. 


Calf  Skins  are  valued  in  proportion 
to  their  strength  and  size,  and,  when 
properly  tanned,  make  excellent  leather 


FOR  TANNING. 


49 


for  boots  and  shoes,  and  also  make  supe- 
rior patent  japanned  (termed  patent 
calf  skin)  leather  for  fine  wear.  The 
skins  of  young  calves  are  sometimes 
converted  into  parchment.  The  French 
tannei*s,  who  are  renowned  for  the 
excellence  of  their  calf  leather,  use  the 
skins  taken  from  animals  of  five  or  six 
months  of  age.  Those  from  calves  of 
less  than  two  months  old  are  very  infe- 
rior, and  only  suitable  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  parchment. 

Calf  skins  tanned  by  this  process 
have  superior  advantages  over  those 
tanned  by  the  old  method.  I have  fre- 
quently heard  gentlemen  say  they  wore 
a pair  of  calf-skin  boots  on  their  feet 
which  were  manufactured  from  leather 
tanned  by  this  process,  and  that  they 
have  worn  them  every  day  for  a period 
of  four  months,  without  overshoes,  and 
their  feet  have  not  been  damp  once. 


50  HIDES  SUITABLE 

though  they  have  repeatedly  walked  in 
the  snow  and  sleet ; and  at  present 
there  is  not  the  slightest  appearance  of 
cracking  in  the  uppers,  and  the  soles  are 
apparently  as  good  as  the  first  day  they 
put  them  on  their  feet.  Calf-skins 
tanned  by  this  process  possess  more 
strength,  have  a finer  texture,  and  pro- 
duce a handsomer  grain ; are  more 
pliable  and  durable,  and  more  impervi- 
ous to  moisture,  than  when  tanned  by 
the  old  method. 


MUSTANG,  OR  WILD  HORSE. 


FOR  TANNING. 


51 


Hoese  Hides  are  tanned  for  uppers, 
and  make  good  leather.  They  are  also 
tanned  for  thongs,  for  sewing  belts,  &c., 
and  are  the  best  material  for  that  pur- 
pose. Horse  hides  make  good  leather 
for  japanning  and  enameling  purposes  ; 
when  well  tanned  and  properly  finished, 
make  a superior  leather  for  shoes  and 
fancy  mountings  for  ornaments  of  taste. 


THE  GOAT. 


Goat  Skins,  when  tanned  and  curried, 
are  used  for  the  uppers  of  ladies’  shoes. 
Tanned  in  a particular  manner  and 
dyed  with  fancy  colors,  they  constitute 


52 


HIDES  SUITABLE 


Morocco  or  Turkey  leather.  The  best 
goat  skins  come  from  Mexico,  and  are 
known  in  commerce  as  Tampico  skins. 
The  sound  skins  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  are  very  large,  and  far  superior  to 
those  from  Madras  and  the  Cape  de 
Verds.  Goat  skins,  when  properly 
tanned  and  manufactured  into  good 
Morocco,  make  a superior  leather  for 
ladies’  and  gentlemen’s  wear,  which  is 
soft  and  pliable  to  the  feet. 


SHEEP  AND  LAMB. 


Sheep  Skins,  when  tanned  in  the  old 
way,  make  a spongy,  weak  leather,  used 
principally  for  lining  and  trunk  trim- 
mings. Saddlers  and  bookbinders  also 


FOR  TANNING. 


53 


use  them  largely.  When  tanned  by 
this  process,  they  can  be  curried  and 
blackened  the  same  as  calf  skins ; and 
they  will  make  a very  good  leather  for 
light  shoes. 

I have  frecjuently  tanned  sheep  skins 
by  this  process,  and  finished  them  in  the 
same  manner  as  true  Morocco.  The 
results  of  the  many  experiments  prove 
to  our  fullest  satisfaction,  that  sheep 
skins,  when  tanned  and  finished  in  this 
way,  have  many  advantages  over  the 
old  method  of  tanning  leather:  they 
are  finer,  more  pliable  and  durable,  and 
more  impervious  to  moisture ; and,  when 
manufactured  into  boots  and  shoes  for 
summer  wear,  they  give  full  satisfaction 
to  all  who  will  give  them  a fair  trial. 


54 


HIDES  SUITABLE 


THE  DEER. 


Deee  Skins,  when  tanned  and  fin- 
ished in  a proper  manner,  are  nsed  for 
the  uppers  of  shoes  ; and,  when  finished 
in  a particular  way,  make  a superior 
leather  for  many  purposes.  By  tawing, 
they  are  converted  into  chamois  or  wash 
leather,  which  is  also  made  from  goat 
skin. 

Leather  is  differently  designated  in 
commerce,  according  to  the  use  for 
which  it  is  intended.  For  example : 
harness  leather  is  blackened  on  the 
grain ; russet  is  fair  finished  leather ; 
wax  leather  is  blackened  on  the  flesh 


FOR  TANNING. 


55 


side;  and  buff  is  that  with  the  grain 
divided  by  careful  shaving,  and  black- 
ened on  the  grain  side.  There  are  vari- 
ous methods  of  manufacturing  patent 
leather  which  I will  not  describe  mi- 
nutely. 

Mode  of  Salting  Hides. — This  meth- 
od consists  in  laying  open  the  hide 
upon  the  ground  and  sprinkling  the 
ffesh  sides  with  salt,  more  liberally  at 
the  edges  and  spinal  portions  than  on 
other  parts.  They  are  then  folded  or 
doubled  lengthwise  down  the  center  ; 
the  remaining  folds  are  made  over  each 
other,  commencing  with  the  shank,  then 
the  peak  of  the  belly  upon  the  back, 
afterward  the  head  upon  the  tail  part, 
and  the  tail  part  upon  the  head;  and 
'lastly,  by  doubling  the  whole  with  a 
final  fold  and  forming  a square  of  one 
or  two  feet.  This  being  done,  they  are 
then  piled  three  and  three  together,  and 

5* 


56 


HIDES  SUITABLE  FOR  TANNING. 


left  until  the  salt  has  dissolved  and 
penetrated  their  tissue,  which  generally 
requires  two  or  three  days.  Thus  pre- 
pared, they  are  sent  to  market.  Skins 
may  be  diied,  even  after  having  been 
salted,  by  stretching  them  upon  poles^ 
with  the  flesh  side  uppermost,  and  ex- 
posing them  to  dry  air  in  a shady  place. 
Ten  pounds  of  salt  in  summer,  and  some- 
what less  in  winter,  are  requisite  for 
each  skin  of  ordinary  size. 


EXAMINING  THE  COMPOSITION  OP  THE  SKIN. 


CHAPTER  III. 


COMPOSITION  OF  THE  SKIN. 

The  skin  of  animals  consists  of  an  ex- 
terior covering,  the  epidermis^  or  cuticle^ 
under  which  is  a thin  stratum  of  a pe- 
culiar substance,  called  by  anatomists, 
rete  mucosvm^  which  lies  immediately 
upon  the  cutis  corium  dermis^  or  true 
skin.  The  epidermis  varies  in  thickness 
on  different  parts  of  the  body;  it  is 
little  prone  to  decomposition,  insoluble 
in  water,  in  alcohol,  and  dilute  acids. 
Concentrated  nitric  and  sulphuric  acids 
soften  and  ultimately  dissolve  it.  The 


60 


COMPOSITION  OF 


caustic  fixed  alkalies  dissolve  it  even 
when  considerably  diluted,  but  not  the 
carbonated  alkalies.  It  is  stained  by 
several  substances,  so  far  indelibly 
that  the  color  remains  till  the  cuticle 
peels  off.  It  does  not  combine  with 
tannin.  Corns,  and  similar  induration, 
resemble  the  epidermis  in  their  general 
chemical  characters ; and  horn,  hoof, 
calves’  feet,  cows’  heels,  sheep’s  trotters, 
pigs’  petitoes,  nails,  claws,  tortoise  shell, 
hair,  wool,  feathers,  and  scales  may  be 
regarded  as  modifications  of  it.  All 
these  substances  partake  more  or  less  of 
the  character  of  dry  albumen,  and 
Hatchett’s  researches  have  shown  that 
the  analogies  between  them  are,  in  many 
cases,  only  broken  by  the  presence  of 
foreign  substances.  The  general  color 
of  the  surface  of  the  body  resides  in  the 
rete  mucosum^  the  tint  of  which  is  much 
dependent  upon  the  influence  of  light. 


THE  SKIN. 


61 


The  black  skin  of  the  African,  the 
brown  of  the  Asiatic  and  American, 
and  the  pinkish-white  of  the  European, 
derive  their  color  from  this  peculiar 
secretion  deposited  between  the  cutis 
and  cuticle.  The  nature  of  this  sub- 
stance has  not  been  chemically  investi- 
gated, but  it  has  been  ascertained,  in 
regard  to  the  black  of  the  negro,  that  it 
admits  of  being  bleached  by  chlorine. 
The  cutis  or  true  skin  is  of  a fibrous 
texture,  and,  when  boiled  in  water,  is  to 
a great  extent  soluble,  leaving  the  vas- 
cular and  nervous  filaments  which  per- 
vade it.  The  solution,  when  slowly 
evaporated,  leaves  gelatine,  which  is  the 
principal  and  characteristic  component 
of  the  cutis.  The  skins  of  animals  con- 
sist of  fibrine,  gelatine,  and  small  por- 
tions of  albumen  and  fatty  matter.  The 
first  two  form,  as  it  were,  the  basis  or 
net-work  of  the  whole  tissue,  a portion 


62 


COMPOSITION  OF 


of  whicli,  if  boiled  with  water,  yields 
its  gelatine,  while  the  fibrine  remains. 
The  e'pidermis  of  the  skin  does  not  com- 
bine with  tannin.  The  properties  of 
these  substances,  which  play  such  an 
important  part  in  tanning,  are  as  fol- 
lows: Fibrine  is  one  of  the  immediate 
and  most  abundant  principles  in  animals. 
It  exists  in  the  chyle  and  blood,  and  is 
the  basis  of  muscle ; it  is  a white,  taste- 
less, inodorous  solid,  heavier  than  water, 
soft,  slightly  elastic,  and  without  action 
upon  litmus.  Fibrine  loses  four  fifths  of 
its  weight  by  drying,  and  becomes  yel- 
lowish, hard,  and  brittle,  but  regains 
much  of  its  original  appearance  by  soak- 
ing in  water.  It  is  insoluble  in  cold 
water,  and  hardens  without  dissolving 
in  hot  water,  but  is  modified  in  its  com- 
position and  properties.  When  left  in 
contact  with  cold  water  for  several  days, 
decomposition,  accompanied  by  a cheesey 


THE  SKIN. 


63 


apj)earance,  ensues.  Dilute  sulphuric 
acid  shrivels  flesh  fibrine,  and  ultimately 
combines  with  it,  forming  a jelly  soluble 
in  water.  Dry  fibrine  is  changed  by 
strong  acid  into  a yellow,  gelatinous 
mass,  without  being  dissolved.  If  the 
acid  be  very  dilute,  the  fibrine  swells 
and  becomes  gelatinous.  Concentrated 
acetic  acid  rapidly  gelatinizes  fibrine 
and  renders  it  soluble  in  hot  water. 
Tannin  precipitates  it  from  both  its  acid 
and  alkaline  solutions,  and,  when  fresh 
fibrine  is  immersed  in  a solution  of  tan- 
nin, it  becomes,  on  drying,  tough,  hard, 
and  imputrescible.  Gluten  is  the  prin- 
cipal component  of  glue,  and  prepared 
in  a pure  state  by  soaking  the  latter 
repeatedly  in  quantities  of  fresh  water 
until  all  soluble  matters  are  removed, 
and  by  then  boiling  and  straining  the 
residue.  Gelatine  is  colorless,  or  yellow- 
ish, transparent,  tasteless,  and  inodorous. 


64 


COMPOSITION  OF 


It  does  not  lose  its  transparency  by  dry- 
ing, but  becomes  hard,  brittle,  and 
horny.  It  softens  and  swells,  and  very 
slightly  dissolves  in  cold  water,  but  is 
very  soluble  in  hot  water,  from  which 
alcohol  precipitates  it.  Repeated  and 
successive  boiling  and  cooling  of  its 
aqueous  solution  impairs  its  gelatinizing 
property.  The  characteristic  property 
of  gelatine  is  that  of  combining  with 
tannin  and  forming  a grayish,  glutinous, 
elastic  compound,  which,  upon  drying, 
becomes  unalterable  and  imputrescible 
in  water,  and  forms  the  basis  of  leather. 
The  mutual  affinity  of  these  two  sub- 
stances is  so  strong  that  the  latter  will 
precipitate  the  former  from  a solution 
containing  as  little  as  one  part  in  five 
thousand  parts  of  water.  Gelatine  does 
not  exist  exactly  as  such  in  skins,  and 
therefore  leather,  (a  compound  of  gela- 
tinous tissue  and  tannin,)  though  very 


THE  SKIN. 


65 


analogous  to,  is  not  strictly  identical 
with,  this  elastic  precipitate  of  tanno- 
gelatine,  which  is  slightly  soluble  in 
water,  and  becomes  brittle  on  drying. 

Mulder,  who  has  examined  the  sub- 
ject, says  there  are  two  definite  com- 
pounds of  tannin  with  gelatine.  For 
example,  when  a solution  of  pure  gela- 
tine is  mixed  with  one  containing  a great 
excess  of  tannin,  the  resulting  precip- 
itate, which  is  white  and  curdy,  and 
becomes  reddish-brown,  hard,  and  brit- 
tle on  drying,  consists  of  one  equivalent 
of  tannic  acid  and  one  of  gelatine.  This 
is  the  neutral  compound.  If,  however, 
the  tannin  be  not  added  in  excess,  then 
the  compound  will  contain  three  equiva- 
lents‘of  gelatine  and  two  of  tannic  acid. 
Earthy  and  metallic  salts,  throw  down 
double  compounds,  one  with  acid  and 
another  with  metallic  oxide,  the  latter 
of  which  is  wholly  insoluble  while  the 


66 


COMPOSITION  OF  THE  SKIN. 


former  is  not  entirely  so.  Tannin  pre- 
cipitates albuminous  solutions,  but  the 
resulting  compound  is  not  softened  by 
beat,  like  the  tanno-gelatine. 

Tannic  acid  combines  with  animal 
gelatine,  forming  an  insoluble  curdy 
precipitate.  A piece  of  prepared  skin 
introduced  into  a solution  of  tannic  acid 
absorbs  the  acid  and  is  converted  into 
leather.  A hide  is  composed  of  gluten. 
Leather  and  gluten  are  two  very  dif- 
ferent and  distinct  substances.  Leather 
is  formed  by  a chemical  action.  The 
affinity  of  tannin  and  gluten  is  very 
great,  and  by  the  combination  of  these 
two  substances  we  produce  leather. 
This  apparently  compact  mass  of  gluten, 
called  green  hide,  is  composed  of  mil- 
lions of  minute  cellular  fibres,  inter- 
woven and  running  in  every  conceivable 
direction,  forming  a strong  network. 


i -V 


‘i'  r - 


; A ' 


f:  7-;: 


r*n  i '•■Jf : .. 


..7  :;.  ■■•.^7:',^..  ; /,  • ■■.  7;-:  7- 

‘ - ' -■  .'v<- .'  ■ '•  ■ 


' l.  ;■■■ 


"1 


;:;v-  ■/kit:C>?y.TlS^!gC  ' 77:.  ■ 

^ '*:  I '•  -t7>. 


V.- 


■ *'^h 


u:\v  OK  TIIK  HIDE-MILL,  OR  FULl.lNG  S'lOCKS  AND  THE  WASHER. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


WASHING  AND  SOAKING  THE  HIDES. 

In  order  to  prepare  the  raw  hides  for 
the  action  of  the  tanning  materials,  it  is 
necessary  to  subject  them  to  several  pre- 
liminary operations.  These  consist  in 
washing  and  soaking,  liming  or  unhair- 


Hide  Mill  or  Fulling  Stocks,  and  Washing  Machine. — 
These  machines  are  employed  for  the  purpose  of  softening 
and  washing  the  filthy  matter  from  the  hides,  and  thus, 
by  bringing  them  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  fresh  state 
of  the  skins  when  first  taken  from  the  carcass,  to  facilitate 
the  after  process  of  depilation  and  tanning.  The  hides, 
with  the  hair  on,  are  first  soaked  in  cold  water  for  twenty- 
four  hours,  or  longer  if  necessary,  and  are  then  subjected 
to  the  action  of  the  hide  mill  for  an  hour,  which  time  is 
generally  sufficient  to  render  them  pliable.  Eight  or 


70 


WASHING  AND  SOAKING 


ing,  and  bating.  Wasting  and  soaking 
the  tides  is  tte  first  operation  ttey  must 
undergo,  and  it  is  tterefore  a great  con- 
venience to  tave  tte  tannery  located 
upon  or  near  to  a stream  or  running 
spring,  witt  an  abundance  of  water. 
Tte  skins  are  tpken  in  a green,  dry,  or 
salted  state.  Tte  green  tides  are 
ttose  from  recently  slaugttered  animals. 
Ttey  are  placed  in  tte  pool  of  water 
and  left  to  soak  for  talf  a day,  or  longer 
if  necessary,  for  tte  removal  of  blood 
and  adhering  dirt.  If  tte  skins  are  not 
very  dirty,  an  tour  is  sufficient.  If  it 
should  be  necessary  to  soak  them  for  a 

twelve  skins,  according  to  their  size  and  thickness,  are 
generally  put  in  the  machine  at  once.  A small  stream  of 
clean  water  is  allowed  to  run  into  the  apparatus  upon  the 
hides;  and  the  washings,  or  dirty,  filthy  matter  contained 
in  them,  is  allowed  to  drain  off  at  the  bottom  of  the  ma- 
chine. This  method  of  preparing  the  skins  for  the  liming 
and  tanning  processes  dispenses  with  the  laborious  mani- 
pulations to  which  they  are  commonly  subjected,  and 
preserves  their  quality — not  injured  as  they  were  in  the 
old  way  by  the  hands  of  the  workmen.  It  also  presents 


THE  HIDES. 


71 


longer  time,  they  must  be  handled  or 
moved  about  at  frequent  intervals.  Dry 
hides  necessarily  require  a longer  soak- 
ing, and,  to  expedite  the  operation,  it  is 
necessary  to  remove  them  from  the 
water  and  subject  them  to  the  fulling 
stocks  or  mill  frequently.  If  there  is  no 
hide  mill  in  the  tannery,  they  must  be 
stretched  upon  the  wooden  horse  and 
scraped  downwards  with  a fleshing  knife. 
The  fleshing  should  be  repeated  once  or 
twice.  The  washing  and  scraping  must 
be  continued  until  all  the  slimy  and 
other  animal  matters  which  are  prone  to 
putrefaction  are  removed.  No  deflnite 

the  additional  advantage  of  not  requiring  a long  exposure 
to  the  action  of  lime,  which  is  so  apt  to  injure  their  tissue. 
After  the  hides  remain  a sufficient  length  of  time  in  the 
lime,  the  hair  is  removed  by  the  workmen,  and  then  sub- 
jected to  the  washing  machine  for  the  purpose  of  washing 
out  the  lime,  which  is  accomplished  in  a very  short  space 
ol  time.  The  skins  are  then  taken  to  the  wooden  horse 
and  fleshed  by  the  wqfkmen.  They  are  then  placed  in  the 
hide  mill  and  beaten  in  the  same  manner  as  before  for  an 
hour  or  so,  washed  'and  rinsed  in  a pool  of  clean  water, 
6* 


'72 


WASHING  AND  SOAKING 


lengtli  of  time  can  be  prescribed  for  tbe 
soaking  of  tbe  skins ; tbey  are  to  re- 
main in  tbe  water  until  tbey  bave 
become  supple,  and  tbe  intelligence  of 
tbe  workman  must  determine  when  tbis 
point  is  attained.  If  tbis  work  is  done 
by  tbe  aid  of  a fulling,  or  bide  mill,  as 
it  is  termed,  it  can  be  accomplished  in 
one-tentb  of  botb  time  and  labor.  If 
tbe  soaking  should  be  prolonged,  tbe 
bides  will  acquire  a tendency  to  putrefy. 
When  tbe  skins  bave  been  all  soaked 
and  washed  as  above  directed,  and  are 
sufficiently  supple,  tbey  are  returned  to 
and  left  in  tbe  water  for  a short  time. 


and  then  placed  upon  a truck  car  and  conveyed  to  the  tan 
pits,  and  there  deposited  in  a weak  solution  of  tannin 
liquor.  A description  of  this  machine,  for  the  fulling  of 
both  small  and  large  skins,  is  represented  on  the  left  end 
of  the  engraving  in  front  of  this  chapter,  giving  an  angle 
elevation.  The  trough  in  which  the  skins  are  placed  is 
six  feet  long,  three  wide,  and  two  deep  in  the  clear,  with 
a concave  bottom.  The  end  presents  a quarter  circle, 
against  which  the  hides  are  beaten.  The  mallets  or  ham- 
mers are  two  and  a half  feet  long  on  the  under  side,  and 


THE  HIDES. 


Id 


(five  or  six  liom’s.)  Some  attention 
must  always  be  given  to  tbe  nature  of 
the  water,  the  size  of  the  hides,  and  tem- 
perature of  the  atmosphere.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  a too  long  contin- 
ued soaking  in  the  same  water  exposes 
the  skins  to  the  danger  of  putrefaction ; 
and  the  rapidity  of  this  decomposition 
is  proportional  to  the  amount  of  filthy, 
foreign  matter  contained  in  the  water. 

If  the  hides  are  subjected  to  the 
fulling  stocks,  or  hide  mill,  as  it  is 
termed,  and  worked  for  a short  time 
with  judicious  care,  and  having  a small 
stream  of  clean  soft  water  running  in  at 

one  and  a half  on  the  top  side,  one  and  a half  feet  deep^ 
and  one  and  a half  thick,  with  grooved  cast-iron  plates 
fastened  to  each  end  of  the  mallets,  supported  by  two 
upright  levers  ten  feet  long,  the  lower  end  mortised  in  the 
center  of  the  hammers,  and  fastened  at  the  top  of  the 
frame  by  a bolt  of  iron  and  wedges,  so  as  to  make  the 
hammers  perform  their  work  correctly  and  prevent  them 
from  swaying  out  of  place.  The  whole  frame  and  size  of 
the  machine  is  twelve  feet  long,  four  feet  wide,  and  ten 
feet  high.  The  hide  mill  can  be  driven  by  water  or  steam 


74 


WASHING  AND  SOAKING 


one  end  of  the  mill  on  the  skins,  while 
the  dirty,  filthy  matter  contained  in 
them  is  washed  out  at  the  other  end, 
skins  thus  treated  can  be  softened  and 
washed  out  completely  in  a very  short 
time.  This  operation  of  treating  the 
hides  is  represented  by  a wood  engrav- 
ing in  front  of  this  chapter.  By  this 
method,  one  man  can  cleanse  a thousand 
hides  in  the  short  space  of  twelve  hours. 

The  hides  which  have  been  well 
salted,  but  not  dried,  can  be  cleansed  in 
a very  short  time  in  the  same  way  as 
aforesaid.  These  manipulations  are  ne- 
cessary not  only  for  removing  salt  and 


power.  There  are  two  pitments — the  end  of  one  being 
attached  to  the  upright  levers,  about  three  feet  from  the 
bottom,  and  the  other  end  attached  to  a cast-iron  crank, 
each  arm  of  the  crank  being  ten  inches  in  length,  the  two 
cranks  forming  a circle  of  about  twenty  inches  in  diam- 
eter, giving  the  mallets  about  a thirty-inch  stroke  upon 
the  hides,  driven  at  the  rate  of  about  eighty  or  one  hun- 
dred strokes  to  the  minute.  A band  or  cog-wheel  is 
attached  to  one  end  of  the  shaft  when  dri/en  by  power. 


THE  HIDES. 


15 


dirt,  but  also  for  rendering  tliem  soft 
and  supple.  When  they  are  taken  from 
the  water  for  the  last  time,  the  rinsing 
must  be  vigorous  and  thorough. 

Some  manufacturers  contend  that  the 
quality  of  the  leather  is  improved  in 
proportion  to  the  duration  of  the  time 
of  soaking  the  skin.  It  is  still  undenia- 
ble that,  when  it  exceeds  a certain  time, 
the  skin  acquires  a tendency  to  decompo- 
sition, and  the  quality  of  the  leather  is 
thus  impaired.  It  is  a mooted  point 
whether  the  nature  of  the  water  used 
for  soaking  has  any  influence  upon  the 
quality  of  the  leather.  From  a 


Washing  Machine. — This  machine  is  represented  on  the 
right  end  of  the  engraving.  Its  form  and  size  are  in  the 
shape  of  a drum,  five  feet  in  diameter  and  six  feet  long,, 
closed  up  at  each  end,  with  a trap-door  in  the  front  end 
for  the  purpose  of  passing  the  skins  in  and  out.  A pipe 
is  so  arranged  in  the  center  of  the  washer  as  to  allow  a 
small  stream  of  clean  water  to  pass  in  upon  the  hides,  and 
small  holes  are  made  around  the  edge  of  the  front  end  to 
let  the  dirty  water  pass  out,  with  plugs  to  stop  the  holes 


76 


WASHING.  AND  SOAKING 


practical  knowledge  on  this  point,  we 
will  not  take  the  affirmative  side  of  the 
question.  It  is  undeniable  that  the 
leather  known  as  calf  skin,  upper,  &c., 
and  which,  by  its  very  nature  and  des- 
tined use,  should  be  soft  and  supple, 
requires  a soft,  fresh,  running  water, 
and,  consequently,  that  it  will  be  diffi- 
cult to  make  them  so  with  hard  water. 
Rain  water  is  the  purest,  but  all  drinka- 
ble waters  are  applicable  for  tanning 
purposes.  Tanneries  that  cannot  obtain 
soft  water  can  have  the  softness  im- 
parted to  it  by  infiltrating  it  through, 
spent  tan.  For  this  purpose  there  is  a 


and  make  the  washer  perfectly  water-tight.  The  inside 
surface  of  the  machine  is  set  full  of  small  wooden  pins, 
one  inch  thick,  about  four  inches  long,  and  about  four 
inches  apart,  for  the  purpose  of  catching  the  skins,  raising 
them  up,  and,  in  falling,  changes  them  in  various  positions. 
A six-inch  wooden  shaft  placed  through  the  center  of  the 
washer,  set  upon  a frame  erected  for  that  purpose,  with  a 
cog-wheel  and  other  gearing  attached  to  it,  so  as  to  run 
the  machine  at  the  rate  of  twenty  revolutions  to  the  min- 


THE  HIDES. 


77 


series  of  three  vats  charged  similarly 
with  spent  tan,  and,  as  the  water  which 
is  poured  into  the  first  vat  is  drawn 
through  a cock  at  the  bottom,  it  is  trans- 
ferred to  the  second,  and,  ultimately,  to 
the  third  vat.  In  this  manner  all  kinds 
of  water  may  be  rendered  available  for 
tanning,  as,  thus  rectified,  it  contains  a 
little  tannin  derived  from  the  spent  tan, 
which  renders  it  particularly  adapted 
for  the  early  part  of  the  tanning  opera- 
tion. Experience  certainly  proves  the 
superiority  of  some  waters  over  others 
for  tanning  purposes,  but  on  what  par- 
ticular quality  of  the  water  this  superi- 


ute.  If  the  washer  is  allowed  to  run  any  faster  it  will 
not  do  the  work  so  well.  When  skins  are  tanned  suffi- 
ciently to  be  skived,  they  are  taken  from  the  tan  liquor 
and  subjected  to  the  machine  for  a short  time,  which 
washes  them  out  completely.  After  skiving,  they  are 
again  placed  in  the  washer  for  a short  time,  which  much 
facilitates  and  hastens  the  process  of  tanning. 

Either  of  these  machines  will  perform  work  much  more 
rapidly  and  satisfactorily  than  any  other  machine  now  in 


78 


WASHING  AND  SOAKING  THE  HIDES. 


ority  depends  I have  not  yet  been  able 
to  determine.  The  safest  course  is  to 
prefer  those  waters  which  contain  the 
least  soluble  matter,  particularly  earthy 
matters,  for  they  certainly  reduce  the 
tanning  power  of  the  ooze  by  combining 
with  some  of  its  constituents. 


existence,  or  than  it  was  formerly  done  by  the  tedious  and 
laborious  processes  practised  in  early  days.  The  expense 
of  building  these  machines  is  about  thirty  dollars  each. 

In  the  foreground  of  the  engraving  is  the  representation 
of  a railroad  and  truck  car  loaded  with  hides.  This  road 
and  car  is  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  stock  through  to 
the  different  parts  and  places  in  the  tannery.  This,  how- 
ever, will  be  more  fully  explained  hereafter. 


r , 


■ -■  y ■ ■ i, 

■ ' : M'"  ' 


' jijt’  i ' - .'f  ' 

'■  r J ' ^'^  ' ‘ «“  ' 

' '■  ■ •■  ' . .V.  ‘ .-  r • 

:'a  --  - . ■ . ^ 

'•  .'•  ' ' ' ■ ' .'  ■ .'  !'•'  ' ’ V ■ 

>-»v-  ' ' V .-  ••'  -,  •• 


\ 


-ti- 


• 'J".  ' 


CHAPTER  V. 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNIIAIRING. 


The  second  process  to  wliicli  hides 
are  to  be  su])jected  is  termed  nnhairimj^ 
and  is  that  l)y  which  the  pores  are  dis- 
tended, the  fibres  swollen,  and  the  hair 
loosened.  These  results  are  efiected  by 
means  of  alkaline  or  acid  solutions,  and 
by  fermentation.  Milk  of  lime  is  the 


Beam  House. — This  room  comes  next  to  the  apartment 
for  washing  and  soaking  the  hides.  The  beam  house  is  the 
grand  starting  point  for  the  manufacture  of  good  leather. 
It  depends  entirely  upon  this  operation  for  facilitating  and 
hastening  the  process  of  tanning.  To  secure  this  desirable 
result  they  must  be  perfectly  cleaned,  scraped,  and  rinsed 
7 


82 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRING. 


alkaline  liquor  generally  employed. 
Lime  water  has  been  proposed  as  a sub- 
stitute, but  it  is  less  permanent  in  its 
action  and  requires  frequent  renewal  in 
order  to  insure  the  perfect  cleansing  of 
the  hides.  After  the  hides  have  been 
sufficiently  soaked,  or,  in  other  words, 
sufficiently  prepared  to  receive  limes  or 
to  be  unhaired,  I then  introduce  Compo- 
sition No,  1 for  the  purpose  of  remov- 
ing hair  or  wool,  or  for  the  purpose  of 
liming,  as  it  is  called,  instead  of  using 
lime  as  in  the  old  way. 

Lime  has  been  used  alone  for  the  pur- 
pose of  removing  hair,  wool,  grease, 
mucus,  and  other  impurities  from  the 
skins.  Lime  alone  requires  several 


before  being  allowed  to  enter  the  handling  house  for  the 
action  of  the  tanning  liquor.  My  tannery  is  two  hundred 
and  forty  feet  in  length  and  forty  feet  in  width,  with  a 
railroad  running  through  the  center  from  one  end  to  the 
other.  The  room  or  apartment  occupied  for  soaking, 
softening,  and  washing  the  hides  comes  first,  and  the  next 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRING. 


83 


days,  and,  in  cold  weather,  weeks  to 
effect  these  several  objects ; so  that  the 
muscular  fibre  of  the  hides  is  always 
more  or  less  injured.  When  the  compo- 
sition is  combined  in  proper  proportions 
it  modifies  the  action  of  the  alkalies  and 
protects  the  skins,  so  that  the  process  of 
unhairing  and  liming  are  both  rendered 
more  expeditious,  the  hides  are  made 
much  softer  than  by  the  old  method  of 
liming,  their  texture  is  uninjured,  and, 
consequently,  the  leather  is  much 
stronger.  The  skins  may  be  prepared 
for  the  bating  and  tanning  processes 
after  the  usual  method ; but  I prefer 
and  use  the  following  ingredients,  which 
I shall  denominate — 


is  the  unhairing  apartment.  This  latter  operation  and  the 
apartment  are  represented  by  a wood  engraving  in  front 
of  this  chapter.  The  center  of  the  engraving  represents 
a railroad,  on  which  a truck  car  is  coming  in  from  the 
wash  and  soak  room  loaded  with  hides  ready  to  receive 
the  action  of  the  lime.  On  the  right  end  of  the  engraving 


84 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRINO. 


CoMPOSiTioisr  No.  1. 


1st, 

2d, 

3d,  

This  composition  (No.  1)  must  be 
mixed  in  about  the  consistency  of  white- 
wash, with  a sufficient  quantity  of  water 
in  the  vat  to  immerse  the  number  of 
hides  proposed  to  be  unhaired.  The 
lime  vats  are  placed  along  one  side  of 
the  beam-house,  each  vat  containing  a 
paddle-wheel  operating  on  the  upper 
portion  of  the  unhairing  liquor,  while 
the  hides  being  handled  are  entirely 
loose  and  free  in  the  vat,  and  move  in 


is  represented  five  lime  vats,  with  paddle-wheels  for  the 
purpose  of  handling  the  hides  and  agitating  the  unhairing 
liquor.  The  first  wheel  is  represented  as  being  in  full 
motion,  stirring  up  the  liquor  in  place  of  the  old  tedious 
method  of  handling  by  hand.  These  lime  pits  are  eight 
feet  long,  five  feet  wide,  and  six  feet  deep,  with  a concave 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRING. 


85 


an  opposite  direction  to  that  of  the 
wheel.  A gentle  and  yet  effectual  mo- 
tion is  given  to  the  skins  and  liquor  by 
means  of  the  wheel.  When  the  compo- 
sition is  prepared  in  the  vat,  the  hides 
are  thrown  in  and  kept  agitated  at  fre- 
quent intervals  by  running  the  wheels  a 
few  minutes  at  a time,  say  once  every 
half  hour,  or  once  every  two  or  three 
hours,  as  the  case  may  require.  This 
operation  of  unhairing  the  hides,  and 
also  the  vats  containing  the  wheels,  are 
represented  by  a wood  engraving  in 
front  of  this  chapter. 

Although  the  management  of  process 
No.  1 is  the  same  as  the  usualjmethod, 
the  skins  must  be  handled  or  agitated. 


bottom,  for  the  purpose  of  making  an  easy  revolution  of 
the  hides  and  liquor  by  the  action  of  the  wheels.  These 
wheels  are  made  in  the  form  of  the  paddle-wheel  used  by 
steamboats,  and  are  four  and  a half  feet  long,  and  five  feet 
in  diameter,  or  fifteen  feet  in  circumference,  each  being 
geared  independent  of  the  other,  with  three  cog-wheels, 
7* 


86 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRING. 


and  closely  attended  to,  as  lias  been  be- 
fore observed.  This  composition  for 
unbairing  may  be  conducted  at  a tem- 
perature of  summer  beat,  and  tbe  object 
may  be  accomplished  mucb  sooner  than 
by  any  other  process.  One  bushel  of 
^^o.  1 mixture  is  about  equivalent  to 
one  and  a half  bushels  of  good  fresh- 
slacked  lime. 

The  second  ingredient  may  be  substi- 
tuted by  eight  pounds  of  

, which  will  answer  the 

same  purpose.  No.  1 process  must  be 
conducted  with  the  greatest  care  and 
judgment,  and  should  be  kept  at  a mild 
temperature,  and  in  a very  short  time 
the  hides  will  be  ready  to  unhair  with- 


two  large  wheels,  and  one  small  one.  The  small  wheel  is 
attached  to  an  iron  shaft  running  over  the  top  of  the  pad- 
dle-wheels, with  an  iron  lever  attached  to  the  small  wheel 
for  the  purpose  of  sliding  a clutch,  by  which  the  workman 
can  run  any  of  the  wheels  at  the  same  time.  On  the  left 
end  of  the  engraving  are  four  workmen  represented  at 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRING, 


87 


out  the  least  injury  to  the  skins.  After 
the  hair  is  completely  removed,  the 
hides  are  put  in  the  mill  and  milled  a 
short  time  for  the  purpose  of  washing 
or  cleaning  them,  which  2:ives  the  skins 
thorough  rinsing,  and  leaves  them  in  a 
fine  condition  for  the  bate  or  the  tanning 
])rocess.  I Avill  add,  according  to  my 
experience  in  unhairing  and  tanning, 
there  are  certain  drawbacks  in  the 
liming  process,  when  limed  in  the  old 
way,  which  are  worthy  of  enumeration. 

The  contact  of  caustic  lime 
alters,  more  or  less,  the  texture  of  the 
hide,  and  permits  it  to  j^^netrate  the 
pores,  and  remain  in  them  in  the  state  of 
caustic  lime  or  lime  soap. 


work,  depriving  the  hides  of  their  hair,  standing  upon  a 
platform  extending  from  the  wall  half  over  the  ju,ol,  the 
whole  platform  being  about  ten  feet  wide,  with  the  back 
end  two  feet  higher  than  the  front  side,  giving  sufficient 
fall  for  the  dirty  water  discharged  from  tlie  skins  to  run 
off.  The  workman  stands  with  his  back  to  the  pool,  and 


88 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRING. 


Secondly^  The  repeated  rinsings  in 
water  and  workings  only  partially  re- 
move the  lime,  wkicli  is  a serious  imped- 
iment to  perfect  tanning. 

Thirdly^  It  hinders  the  ready  pene- 
tration of  the  tanning  liquor,  and  the 
perfect  combination  of  tannin  with  the 
skin,  and  so  obstinately  resists  removal 
during  all  the  manipulation  that  a por- 
tion of  it  is  found  even  in  the  best  of 
leather.  Notwithstanding  that  my  ex- 
perience is  so  opposed  to  the  use  of  lime, 
the  careful  and  elaborate  experiments  of 
Dr.  Davy,  chemist,  show  that  its  action 
upon  animal  textures  generally  is  rather 
antiseptic  than  destructive.  The  disad- 
vantages of  the  use  of  lime  have  led  to 


operates  facing  the  light.  In  this  position  he  can  draw  a 
hide  from  the  pool  and  place  it  on  the  wooden  horse, 
ready  to  be  operated  on,  without  moving  from  his  truck, 
thus  avoiding  the  old  method  of  walking  around  the  horse 
and  drawing  the  hides  up,  which  gives  the  workman  double 
labor.  After  this  manipulation  is  completed,  the  skins  are 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRING. 


89 


tlie  su])stitution  of  less  objectionable 
agents,  wliich  are  set  forth  in  this  chap- 
ter. The  advantages  derived  to  hides 
by  these  substitutions  for  unhairing  are 
superior  to  any  other  process,  according 
to  my  judgment,  and  is  acknoAvledged 
to  be  a fixed  hxct  by  all  those  who  have 
used  it.  The  skins  immersed  in  this 
liquor  swell  out  considerably,  and  are 
ready  to  l)e  scraped  in  a very  short  time. 
Moreover,  the  alkali  forming  solulde 
soaj),  with  the  fatty  portions,  facilitates 
the  cleansing  and  produces  a smoother 
grained  side  than  is  done  in  the  common 
way.  Hides  thus  prepared  will  imbibe 
the  tanning  liquor  more  rapidly,  and  the 
entire  processes  can  be  accomplished  in 
one-third  of  the  usual  time.  After  this 

thrown  upon  the  truck  and  taken  to  the  fulling  stocks  and 
washer,  and  exposed  to  the  action  of  those  two  machines 
for  a short  time.  When  thoroughly  cleansed,  they  are 
again  placed  upon  the  truck  and  carried  to  the  handling- 
house  for  the  action  of  the  tanning  ooze. 


90 


COMPOSITION  FOR  UNHAIRING. 


mode  of  preparing  the  skins,  they  may 
be  subjected  to  the  tanning  without  addi- 
tional process  of  bating,  and  there  will 
be  a firm,  solid  article  produced.  If  the 
tanner  wishes  to  make  a soft,  mild,  and 
pliable  leather,  it  must  be  subjected  to 
the  bate  for  a few  hours,  which  will  be 
set  forth  in  the  succeeding  chapter. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


BATING. 

REDUCING  THE  HIDE  TO  ITS  ORIGINAL  THICKNESS. 

These  leading  manipulations  are  mod- 
ified to  suit  certain  kinds  of  skins ; and 
some  undergo  an  additional  treatment, 
termed  bating,  to  remove  lime  and 
otherwise  promote  the  thorough  union 
of  the  tan  material  and  gelatinous 
structure.  The  bate  consists  of  a liquor 
made  from  the  dung  of  domestic  fowls ; 
and  immersions  in  this  mixture  remove 
the  lime  and  reduce  the  skins  to  their 
original  thickness.  It  acts  by  means  of 
muriate  of  ammonia,  which  it  contains. 


92 


BATING. 


This  salt  is  decomposed  by  the  unhairing 
process,  which  drives  off  its  base,  the 
ammonia,  and,  taking  up  with  the  mu- 
riatic acid,  then  becomes  soluble  muriate 
of  lime,  and  passes  off  with  the  rinse 
water.  When  limed  in  the  old  way 
with  lime  alone,  it  carries  with  it  at  the 
same  time  a portion  of  the  gelatine,  ren- 
dered soluble  by  putrefaction  of  the 
organic  matter  of  the  bate,  which  un- 
doubtedly occurs.  If  the  hides  are 
unhaired  by  the  aid  of  composition 
No.  1,  there  will  be  no  loss  of  gelatine  in 
the  application  of  the  process ; for,  by 
bating,  it  will  be  entirely  preserved 
from  all  putrefaction.  The  bating  pro- 
cess can  be  conducted  at  the  temperature 
of  summer  heat.  This,  however,  must 
be  attended  to  with  the  greatest  care 
and  judgment  on  the  part  of  the  work- 
man, and  will  render  the  hides  highly 
susceptible  of  being  quickly  tanned. 


'•<  h* 


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fv  -'  “«■ 
Vi : 


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■j  ■■■•.* 


J 


TAN^EKS’  PKIVATE  STUDY'  AND  LABOKATOUY’. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


PROPERTIES  OF  THE  INGREDIENTS  EM- 
PLOYED IN  THE  COMPOSITION 
FOR  TANNING. 

ChejMistky  is  that  branch  of  natural 
knowledge  which  teaches  us  the  j)roper- 
ties  of  the  elementary  substances,  and 
of  their  mutual  combinations.  It  in- 
quires into  the  laws  which  affect  and 
into  the  powers  which  preside  over  their 
union ; it  examines  the  proportions  in 
which  they  combine  and  the  modes  of 
separating  them  when  combined,  and 
endeavors  to  apply  such  knowledge  to 
the  explication  of  natural  phenomena 


96 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


and  to  useful  purposes  iu  the  different 
arts  of  life. 

It  is  my  intention,  in  this  introductc>ry 
chapter,  to  make  a brief  allusion  to  the 
style  of  these  ingredients,  used  in  this 
process  for  the  manufacture  of  leather, 
when  they  are  duly  prepared  in  the 
proper  proportions.  The  union  of  these' 
ingredients  with  tannin  facilitates  the 
process  of  tanniijg,  and  produces  the 
desired  effect  upon  the  article  manu- 
factured. There  are  many  vegetable 
substances  containing  a principle  which 
confers  upon  them  an  astringent  taste, 
and  which  has  the  property  of  forming 
a superior  tanning  liquor. 

Chemistry  is  that  science  which  treats 
of  those  events  or  changes  in  natural 
bodies  which  are  not  accompanied  by 
sensible  motions.  Most  of  the  sub- 
stances belonging  to  our  globe  are  con- 
stantly undergoing  alterations  in  sensible 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


97 


qualities,  and  one  variety  of  matter 
becomes,  as  it  were,  transmuted  into 
anotlier.  Such  changes,  whether  nat- 
ural or  artificial,  whether  slowly  or 
rapidly  performed,  are  called  chemical. 
Thus,  the  gradual  and  almost  impercepti- 
ble decay  of  the  leaves  and  branches  of 
a fallen  tree  exposed  to  the  atmosphere, 
and  the  rapid  combustion  of  wood  in 
our  fires,  are  both  chemical  operations. 
The  object  of  chemical  philosophy  is  to 
ascertain  the  causes  of  all  phenomena  of 
this  kind,  and  to  discover  the  laws  by 
which  they  are  governed.  As  induc- 
tion from  experiment  is  exclusively  the 
basis  of  chemical  science,  little  progress 
could  be  made  in  it  till  the  futility  of 
the  ancient  philosophical  systems  had 
been  shown  and  their  infiuence  annihi- 
lated, till  the  true  end  of  science  was 
rightly  defined  and  the  road  to  it  ren- 
dered straight  and  passable,  till  the 


98 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


necessity  of  well-digested  experiment 
had  been  established,  which  first  pro- 
cures the  light,  then  shows  the  way  by 
its  means.  The  conversion  of  hides  into 
leather  is  wholly  a chemical  process. 
Hides  and  skins  may  be  converted  into 
leather  more  pert*ectly  by  the  combina- 
tion of  those  different  chemicals,  ingre- 
dients, and  tanning  liquors  manufactured 
from  oak  barks.  By  this  combination  a 
greater  amount  of  tannin  is  concentrated 
in  a smaller  quantity  of  materials,  and 
much  less  labor  is  required  than  in  the 
old  method.  These  ingredients,  when 
combined  in  proper  proportions,  make  a 
superior  tanning  agent  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  all  kinds  of  leather.  This  com- 
position consists  of  five  different,  distinct 
substances.  In  the  succeeding  chapter 
will  be  given  a correct  description  of  and 
the  proper  proportions  for  manufacturing 
and  applying  this  compositirn  to  the 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


99 


hides.  In  the  first  place,  as  far  as  my 
knowledge  will  permit,  I will  endeavor 
to  give  the  properties  of  the  ingredients 
adapted  to  Composition  No.  2,  chapter 
viii.,  and  their  effects  upon  the  hides  and 
skins,  and  the  purj^oses  used  for  making 
the  different  kinds  of  leather:  The  tan- 

ner will  observe  that  the  ingredients  are 
not  all  applied  at  the  same  time ; but  let 
him  use  them  as  directed,  and  he  will  not 
fail  to  2)roduce  the  desired  article  of 
leather.  Those  ingredients  are  employed 
at  different  intervals  and  at  different 
stages  of  the  process  of  tanning : 

Firstly.,  I use  the  first  ingredient  for 
the  tanning  |3ro2:)erties  it  possesses.  The 
tannin  can  be  obtained  from  different 
sources.  Its  joroperties,  however,  differ 
materially  in  some  of  their  character- 
istics. The  tannin  possessed  by  this 
article  has  sujDerior  tanning  properties : 

one  pound  of  it  is  equivalent  to  ten 
8* 


100 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


pounds  of  either  oak  or  hemlock  bark, 
besides  containing  pure  tannin,  and  a 
small  quantity  of  gallic  acid  and  modified 
tannin,  in  the  state  which  is  generally 
designated  by  the  name  Extractive; 
and,  lastly,  a combination  of  tannin 
which  is  soluble  in  cold  water,  and  more 
particularly  in  hot  water,  and  produces 
a stronger  liquor  with  the  combination 
of  chemicals,  which  unites  dissimilar 
bodies  into  a uniform  compound  and 
makes  a tanning  liquor  that  cannot  be 
surpassed.  This  article  can  be  procured 
in  abundance  at  the  small  price  of  from 
two  to  five  dollars  per  one  hundred 
pounds. 


Secondly^  I used  the  second  article  for 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


101 


its  brightening  qualities.  I do  not,  there- 
fore, use  it  for  any  tanning  properties, 
for  it  contains  no  tannin.  It  gives  the 
leather  that  very  bright  hue  which  we 
term  bloom,  which  makes  a very  hand- 
some, durable,  and  saleable  color.  This 
ingredient  is  prepared  on  a large  scale 
for  calico  printers.  It  has  a cooling, 
saline,  and  bitter  taste.  When  recently 
prepared  it  is  beautifully  transparent, 
but  by  exposure  to  the  air  it  effloresces 
and  the  crystals  become  covered  with  an 
opaque  white  powder.  By  long  ex- 
posure it  undergoes  complete  efflores- 
cence, and  falls  to  powder  with  the  loss 
of  more  than  one-half  its  weight.  It  is 
soluble  in  three  times  its  weight  of  cold 
water,  and  in  its  own  weight  of  boiling 
water,  but  insoluble  in  alcohol ; sub- 
jected to  heat,  it  dissolves  in  its  water  of 
crystallization,  then  dries,  and  afterward, 
by  the  application  of  a red  heat,  melts, 


102 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


witli  the  loss  of  fifty-five  and  a half  per 
cent,  of  its  weight.  It  has  no  injurious 
or  offensive  properties,  for  it  was  for- 
merly used  as  a medicine.  At  the  pres- 
ent time,  immense  quantities  of  this 
article  are  manufactured  in  all  parts  of 
the  world,  and  can  be  procured  at  the 
small  cost  of  one  cent  per  pound. 

Thirdly^  I use  the  third  article  for 
the  purpose  herein  set  forth : it  induces 
a more  rapid  action  of  the  tannin  upon 
the  skin.  This  ingredient,  when  used  in 
proper  proportions,  unites  more  forcibly, 
and  adds  materially  to  the  quality  of  the 
leather,  and  makes  it  more  pliant  and 
durable,  which  is  the  great  object  in 
tanning. 

This  article  is  largely  manufactured  in 
all  parts  of  the  world,  and  is  used  for 
various  purposes.  Its  cost  is  about  six 
cents  per  pound,  and  it  dissolves  readily 
in  boiling  water. 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


103 


JUST  ARRIVED,  A CARGO  OF  TANNING  MATERIALS. 


Fourthly^  The  fourth  ingredient  is 
used  for  softening  the  hides,  and  expe- 
diting the  process  of  unhairing,  and 
rendering  them  more  supple  for  the 
tanning  process,  and  also  for  keeping  the 
skins  in  a fine  condition  while  the  tanning 
is  going  on,  by  keeping  the  pores  open 
for  the  tannin  to  penetrate  through  the 
network  of  the  hide,  thus  forming  leather 
more  perfectly  and  expeditiously.  If 
the  skins  are  hard  and  harsh,  the  harsh- 
ness can  be  removed  by  the  use  of  this 
article.  It  may  be  used  freely  without 
injuring  the  hides,  as  I have  found  it  of 


104 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


essential  use  in  raising  tlie  skins  in  tke 
tanning  process,  and  preparing  tkem 
without  injury  for  speedy  and  safe 
tanning.  This  article  is  manufactured 
on  a very  large  scale  both  in  Europe 
and  America,  and  is  used  for  various 
purposes.  It  has  no  injurious  or  offens- 
ive properties,  and  can  be  procured  in 
abundance  at  one  and  three-quarter 
cents  per  pound,  and  dissolves  readily  in 
boiling  water. 

Fifthly^  The  fifth  ingredient  pos- 
sesses a small  portion  of  tannin,  and 
also  possesses  a sweetish,  astringent 
taste.  Care  must  be  taken  and  not  use 
too  much  at  a time.  When  used  too 
freely  it  gives  the  leather  an  olive  hue, 
which  is  not  a very  desirable  color. 
Its  expanding  properties  are  very  great, 
and  act  freely  upon  the  pores  of  the 
skin;  therefore  the  proper  proportions 
must  be  strictly  observed,  or  the  effects 


INGREDIENTS  FOR  TANNING. 


105 


will  undoubtedly  be  injurious  to  the 
leather.  It  dissolves  in  fourteen  times 
its  weight  in  cold  water,  and  in  its 
own  weight  of  boiling  water.  It  is 
manufactured  in  almost  all  parts  of  the 
world,  and  is  used  for  various  purposes, 
and  can  be  obtained  at  two  and  a half 
cents  per  pound. 

There  are  many  other  ingredients  of 
similar  properties  that  will  answer  very 
nearly  the  same  purpose ; but,  upon 
experimenting  with  various  kinds  of 
chemicals,  I could  not  find  any  that 
would  answer  for  the  tanning  of  leather 
but  those  I have  adopted,  and  they 
answer  the  purpose  in  every  respect. 
The  reader  will  observe  that  the  names 
of  the  ingredients  are  not  given  in  this 
chapter,  but  they  will  be  designated  by 
being  numbered  in  this  and  also  in  the 
succeeding  chapters. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 

This  process  is  applicable  to  tbe  tan- 
ning of  all  kinds  of  hides,  and  to  making 
the  different  kinds  of  leather. 

The  proper  proportions  of  the  ingre- 
dients must  be  strictly  observed  in  all 
cases.  In  preparing  the  following  ma- 
terials, the  operator  should  use  scales, 
and  weigh  them  out  correctly,  as  repre- 
sented by  the  wood  engraving  in  front 
of  this  chapter.  Caution  should  always 
be  observed  to  have  the  proper  prep- 
arations. I will  here  give  the  correct 


no 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


proportions  of  the  materials  for  the  tan- 
ning of  one  hundred  common-sized  calf- 
skins, or  any  other  like  skins.  The 
example  of  tanning  the  above  skins  will 
be  given  hereafter.  In  mixing  these 
articles,  the  operator  must  be  careful 
that  he  has  the  correct  proportions,  as  it 
will  depend  entirely  upon  the  manage- 
ment and  skill  of  the  workman  in  pre- 
paring these  ingredients  to  produce  a 
superior  quality  of  leather,  which  will, 
undoubtedly,  be  the  case  when  the  pro- 
cess is  correctly  managed. 

Composition  No.  2. 

1st,  lbs. 


2d,  lbs. 

3d,  lbs. 

4th,  lbs. 
5 th,  ......lbs. 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


Ill 


The  ingredients  of  number  one  must 
be  dissolved,  separately,  in  hot  water ; 
or,  hot  bark-liquor  is  preferable.  After 
they  are  dissolved,  put  them  into  a vat 
or  tub,  or  whatever  it  may  be.  If  the 
liquor  is  not  sufficient  to  cover  the 
amount  of  skins  proposed  to  be  tanned, 
bark  liquor  may  be  used  to  fill  up  the 
vat  or  tub,  to  make  the  liquor  cover  the 
hides.  There  should,  in  all  cases,  be  suf- 
ficient in,  but  not  so  as  to  lie  crowded  or 
in  a compact  state.  The  skins  m ust  have 
a sufficient  quantity  of  liquor  on  them,  so 
as  to  lie  loose,  and  let  the  tannin  have  a 
chance  to  search  through  the  network  and 
fibres  of  the  skins,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  important  parts  of  tanning.  When 
they  are  once  plumped,  we  ought,  at 
least,  to  keep  them  in  that  state,  and 
allow  them  to  come  in  contact  with  the 
tannin  gradually,  as  they  are  frequently 
handled  or  agitated  in  the  liquor.  The 


112 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


spent  liquor  or  water  that  remains  in  the 
pores  of  the  hides,  which  has  caused 
them  to  plump,  by  filling  up  every  pore 
and  cavity  among  the  fibres  of  the 
skins,  will  retain  its  place,  and  will  keep 
them  in  fine  condition,  just  as  they 
should  be,  until  it  is  forced  to  give  way 
to  the  tannin,  which  takes  the  place  of 
the  spent  liquor,  and  gradually  unites 
with  the  gelatin  and  forms  leather. 
Hides  should  be  handled  in  cold,  weak 
liquor,  particularly  the  first  application 
of  the  skin  to  the  liquor,  for  a day  or 
two.  The  effects  of  the  first  application 
of  liquor  that  is  too  strong,  and  too 
warm,  to  green  hides  is  very  injurious. 
It  contracts  the  surface  fibres  of  the 
skin,  tanning  at  once  the  external  layers 
so  dead  as  to  shut  up  the  pores  and  pre- 
vent the  tannin  from  penetrating  the 
interior  portions  of  the  hide.  This  ren- 
ders the  leather  harsh  and  brittle.  The 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


113 


liquor  should  also  be  kept  as  cool  as 
possible,  with  certain  limits,  but  ought 
never  to  exceed  a temperature  of  eighty- 
degrees  ; in  fact,  a much  lower  tempera- 
ture is  the  maximum  point,  if  the  liquor 
is  very  strong ; too  high  a heat  with  a 
liquor  too  strongly  charged  with  the 
tanning  principle,  being  invariably  in- 
jurious to  the  life  and  color  of  the 
leather.  The  first  application  of  the 
liquor  should  not  exceed,  in  strength. 


Hydrometer. — A Hydrometer  is  a conven- 
ient apparatus  for  ascertaining  readily  the 
density  or  strength  of  liquors.  That  refer- 
red to  above  has  been  styled  by  its  maker 
(W.  Pike,  of  the  city  of  New  York),  a Bark- 
ometer,  because  it  is  specially  adapted  to 
testing  the  strength  of  bark  liquors.  Its  form 
and  the  manner  of  using  it  are  represented 
by  a small  wood-engraving  on  this  page ; and 
it  is  mfide  wholly  of  glass ; a,  d,  being  the 
stem,  inclosing  a graduated  paper  scale ; B, 
a spherical  bubble ; and  C,  a small  bubble 
at  its  base,  containing  quicksilver  or  shot, 
which  serves  as  ballast  to  retain  the  instru- 
ment in  a vertical  position  in  the  liquid. 
The  scale  on  the  stem  is  equally  divided  into 


114 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


more  than  one  or  two  per  cent,  by  W. 
Pike’s  Barkometer,  w^kicli  is  specially 
adapted  to  testing  the  strength  of  bark 
liquors.  Strong  liquor  must  invariably 
be  avoided  in  the  first  application.  On 
the  other  hand,  a too  weak  solution,  in 
the  latter  stage  of  tanning,  must  be 
avoided.  In  the  latter  stage,  the  liquor 
may  be  used  as  strong  as  it  can  be  made^ 
without  injury  to  the  leather.  I have 
used  it  as  high  as  fifty  per  cent.  The 
weight,  in  leather,  is  made  by  keeping  it 
in  good  strong  liquor,  and  giving  it 
close  attention.  , In  order  to  produce 
heavy  weights,  the  hides  should  not  be 
reduced  too  low  in  the  beam-house,  and 
should  be  tanned  quickly,  with  good 


five  or  ten  wide  spaces,  and  each  of  these  again  subdivided 
into  ten  narrow  spaces;  the  zero  point  of  the  scale  is 
made  by  plunging  the  instrument  into  distilled  water,  at 
68  degrees  F.,  and  adding  mercury  to  the  bubble  until  it 
sinks  tp  nearly  the  top  of  the  stem  a.  A solution  of  ten 
parts  of  bark  in  ninety  parts  of  distilled  water  having 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


115 


strong  liquors,  particularly  in  tlie  latter 
stage  of  tlie  operation  ; green  liides  in 
particular.  Nothing  can  be  more  in- 
jurious than  to  suffer  them  to  remain 
too  long  in  weak  liquors.  It  will,  from 
this,  be  seen  that  in  the  question  of  the 
proper  strength  of  liquors  alone,  there  is 
room  for  the  exercise  of  the  greatest 
judgment  and  the  most  extensive  experi- 
ence. In  very  many  cases,  nothing  can 
be  depended  upon  but  the  judgment  of 
the  practical  tanner.  In  softening  hides 
and  preparing  them  for  the  process  of 
tanning,  a great  deal  also  depends  upon 
the  judgment  of  the  person  superintend- 
ing this  operation ; inasmuch  as  the 
diversities  in  the  qualities  and  charac- 


been  made,  the  hydrometer  is  then  plunged  in  the  liquor, 
and  the  point  to  which  it  sinks  therein,  say  b,  is  caielully 
and  accurately  marked  upon  the  scale,  and  rated  as  10 
compared  with  the  zero  point.  Each  of  the  grand  divi- 
sions, consequently,  represents  ten  per  cent,  of  bark,  and 
each  of  the  smaller  ones,  or  subdivisions,  corresponds  with 


116 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


teristics  of  the  hides  render  it  impossi- 
ble to  subject  them  to  anything  more 
than  a general  mode  of  treatment.  A.s 
a general  rule,  the  milder  the  process  of 
preparing  the  hides  for  the  liquor  the 
better.  Unnecessarily  severe  or  pro- 
longed treatment  is  inevitably  attended 
with  a loss  of  gelatin,  and,  consequently, 
with  a loss  of  weight  and  strength  in 
the  leather.  Skins  should  be  handled 
in  weak  liquor  at  first ; then  increase 
the  strength  of  the  tanning  liquor,  and 
keep  up  the  strength  of  it,  and  handle 
regularly,  and  of  course  the  hides  re- 
quire less  and  less  handling,  as  the  pro- 
cess of  tanning  progresses — for  the  more 
they  become  tanned,  the  slower  will 


one  per  cent,  of  bark.  It  is  very  easy,  therefore,  after 
having  determined  the  length  of  the  stem  from  zero,  which 
sinks  in  a normal  solution  of  bark,  to  apportion  the  rest  of 
it  with  the  aid  of  a pair  of  dividers ; so  that  every  inter- 
val thus  apportioned,  shall  be  equal  to  that  fixed  by  ex- 
periment. When,  therefore,  this  instrument  sinks  into  a 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


m 


they  receive  the  liquor ; the  hides  that 
are  intended  for  sole  leather,  when  han- 
dled a short  time,  in  weak  liquor,  should 
be  laid  down  alternately  in  the  vat,  with 
layers  of  bark  between  each  and  every 
hide.  (For  example,  see  Chapter  XL) 
When  sole  leather  has  been  laid  away 
for  ten  or  fifteen  days,  the  liquor  should 
be  let  off,  and  a good  strong  liquor  pre- 
pared and  poured  into  the  vat,  without 
moving  the  hides,  and  let  it  remain  until 
exhausted.  The  liquor  should  be  renewed 
in  like  manner  until  the  stock  is  com- 
pletely tanned.  The  first  liquor  can  be 
applied  to  a succeeding  pack,  and  so  on 
until  the  strength  of  the  liquor  is  en- 
tirely exhausted. 


bark  liquor  to  twenty  degrees,  thirty,  or  any  other  de- 
gree, the  number  indicates  the  percentage  of  tanning 
force.  It  is  necessary  to  observe  that  this  instrument  is 
applicable  only  to  freshly-made  liquors ; for  otherwise, 
confusion  and  want  of  confidence  might  ensue  upon  find- 
ing that  it  sinks,  sometimes,  to  a corresponding  degree  in 


118 


COMPOSITION  FOR  TANNING. 


The  light  stock,  such  as  calf,  sheep, 
and  other  like  skins,  need  not  be  laid 
away.  (For  example,  see  Chap.  IX.) 

After  the  tannery  becomes  thoroughly 
impregnated  with  chemicals,  it  can  be 
kept  up  with  half  the  expense  and 
trouble,  and  the  tanner  will  see  a great 
change  in  his  leather,  both  in  time  and 
quality.  JSTo  tanner  should  do  without 
this  process,  if  he  looks  to  his  own  inter- 
est, which  every  tanner  should  do.  If 
the  stock  is  to  be  tanned  out  in  a given 
time,  it  must  be  accomplished  by  man- 
agement, care,  attention,  and  strength  of 
the  liquor.  It  is  my  opinion  that  no 
practical  tanner  can  fail  in  his  appointed 
time  for  the  completion  of  the  work,  if 
he  closely  follows  the  direction. 


spent  liquor.  This  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  alterations 
which  tanning  liquors  undergo  during  use  and  exposure, 
may  not  diminish  their  density,  though  they  impair  and 
destroy  their  tanning  power. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


EXAMPLE  OF  TANXIXG  ONE  HUNDRED 
COMMON-SIZED  CALF  SKINS. 


The  tanning  of  calf-skins  is  conducted 
about  the  same  way  as  small  cow-hides, 
or  any  other  kind  of  hides.  In  the  first 
place,  the  skins  are  subjected  to  a 
preparation  liquor  for  the  purpose  of 
gi\dng  them  a clear,  bright  color,  and  a 
good  grain,  and  also  for  opening  their 
pores  and  preparing  them  for  the  tannin. 
By  this  preparation  mixture  the  skins 
can  be  colored  and  grained  beautifully 
in  the  space  of  three  hours.  This  mix- 
ture, however,  need  not  be  used  in 


122 


EXAMPLE  OF 


tanning  regularly ; only  when  you  wish 
to  color  and  grain  the  stock  in  a short 
time.  It  is  more  adapted  to  experiment- 
ing than  regular  tanning,  although  it  is 
useful  in  tanning;  but  many  tanners 
would  think  it  rather  troublesome  to 
prepare.  I procured  one  hundred  com- 
mon-sized calf-skins  from  the  bate,  un- 
haired and  free  of  lime,  and  prepared 
a coloring  and  graining  liquor  of  the 

following  ingredients,  which  I shall 

denominate — ^ 

Peepaeatiox  Liquoe  foe  Coloeixo  and 
Geainino  the  Skins. 

1st,  lbs. . 

2d,  lbs. 

3d,  lbs. 

4th, lbs - 

5th, lbs. 

I dissolve  the  first,  second,  and  third 


TANNING  CALF-SKINS. 


123 


ingredients  in  hot  water ; then  put  the 
fifth  ingredient  in  an  earthen  vessel — a 
crock — and  put  a little  hot  water  in  it ; 
and  then  put  the  fourth  ingredient  in 
the  latter  vessel,  and  let  them  remain 
together  until  all  were  dissolved.  After 
they  were  dissolved,  which  did  not  take 
more  than  ten  minutes,  I poured  all  the 
dissolved  ingredients  together  into  a 
vat,  and  put  in  a sufficient  cpiantity  of 
weak  bark  lirpior  to  cover  tlie  amount 
of  skins  proposed  to  lie  tanned,  then 
threw  the  skins  into  the  jireparation 
mixture.  I handled  them  frequently  for 
six  hours.  The  same  work  has  been 
accomplished  in  my  tannery  in  the  short 
period  of  three  hours.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  the  sixth  hour  the  skins  were 
removed  out  of  the  preparation  mixture, 
completely  colored  and  very  handsomely 
grained.  I then  made  a tanning  liquor 
which  I shall  denominate — 


10 


124 


EXAMPLE  OF 


(The  ingredients  in  the  following  com- 
positions will  be  recognized  by  numbers 
corresponding  with  those  in  Composition 
No.  2,  Chapter  VIII.) — 

Composition  No.  1. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

ibs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

, lbs.  of  the  8d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

I dissolved  these  ingredients  in  hot 
water.  After  they  were  dissolved, 
(which  took  about  ten  minutes,)  I 
poured  ’them  into  a vat,  and  run  in  a 
small  quantity  of  bark  liquor,  enough 
to  make  it  cover  the  skins,  and  then 
threw  the  skins  in,  and  let  them  remain 
in  this  Composition  number  one  for 
twenty-four  hours.  The  wheel  was  run 
about  five  minutes  every  half  hour 
during  the  first  day.  At  the  expiration 
of  the  twenty-four  hours,  the  skins  were 


TANNING  CALF-SKINS.  125 

removed  from  Composition  number  one^ 
and  a new  liquor  prepared  of  the  fol- 
lowing ingredients,  which  I shall  denom- 
inate— 

Composition  No.  2. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  ^Sth  ingredient. 

These  ingredients  were  dissolved  the 
same  as  numher  one ; and  I added  this 
Composition  number  two  to  numher  one^ 
and  strengthened  it  up.  The  liquor  was 
well  plunged  up  ; then  the  skins  were 
put  in  this  composition  for  twenty-four 
hours ; the  wheel  was  run  once  every 
hour  during  the  second  day,  about  five 
minutes  at  a time.  They  may  be 
handled  by  hand  in  the  same  way  that 
many  tanners  handle  their  stock,  which 
will  answer  a very  good  purpose  for 


126 


EXAMPLE  OF 


this  process;  but  I prefer  and  use  the 
wheel  in  all  my  handlings.  In  many  tan 
neries  they  handle  all  their  stock  by 
hand,  which  is  undoubtedly  tedious^ 
laborious,  and  very  expensive ; and, 
according  to  my  judgment  and  expe- 
rience, the  leather  is  not  as  good  and 
pliable  as  when  handled  by  the  wheels. 
The  representation  of  tanning  the  afore- 
said one  hundred  skins  is  shown  by  the 
wood  engraving  in  front  of  this  chapter. 
After  the  expiration  of  the  second 
twenty-four  hours,  the  skins  were  re- 
moved, and  a new  liquor  made,  which  I 
shall  denominate — 

Composition  ~No.  3. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  4th  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 


TANNING  CALF-SKINS. 


127 


Tliese  ingredients  I dissolved  in  liot 
l)ark  liquor,  then  threw  them  all  into 
the  vat,  as  usual,  and  put  in  a sufficient 
quantity  of  middling  good  bark  liquor 
to  make  it  cover  the  skins.  The  liquor 
was  well  plunged  up ; the  skins  were 
thrown  in  and  left  remaining  in  Compo- 
sition nnmher  three  for  forty-eight  hours. 
The  wheel  was  run  about  five  minutes 
every  two  hours  during  the  tivo  days. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  I made  a 
new  liquor,  and  added  it  to  numher 
three ^ which  I shall  denominate — 

Co]UPOsiTiox  No.  4. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

I dissolved  these  ingredients  in  the 

same  way  as  number  three.  The  skins 
10* 


128 


EXAMPLE  OF 


were  removed  out  of  numher  three^  and 
Composition  number  four  added  to  num- 
ber three^  and  plunged  well  up  together ; 
then  the  skins  were  put  in,  and  kept  in 
this  liquor  for  two  days.  They  were 
handled  about  three  or  four  times  each 
day  during  that  time.  At  the  end  of 
the  second  day  I had  the  skins  taken  out 
and  green-shaved,  which  prepared  them 
for  the  reception  of  the  tan  more  freely 
than  before  ; after  which  I prepared  a 
new  liquor  of  the  following  ingredients, 
which  I shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  5. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

These  ingredients  I dissolved  as  usual, 
and  put  them  in  the  vat,  and  added  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  good  strong  bark 


TANNING  CALF-SKINS. 


129 


liquor,  and  jdunged  it  Avell  together; 
then  put  the  skins  in  and  let  them 
remain  in  this  liquor  two  days.  They 
were  handled  about  three  or  four  times 
each  day  during  that  period.  At  the 
expiration  of  the  two  days,  I had  the 
skins  removed  and  the  liquor  cast  away. 

I then  prepared  a new  liquor,  which  I 
shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  6. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

I dissolved  these  ingredients  as  usual ; 
then  threw  them  all  together  into  the 
vat,  and  run  in  a sufficient  quantity  of 
good  strong  bark  liquor,  plunged  it  up 
well,  and  then  put  the  skins  in,  and  let 
them  remain  in  this  composition  three 


130 


EXAMPLE  OF  TANNING  CALF-SKINS. 


days.  They  were  handled  about  twice 
each  day  during  that  period.  At  the 
expiration  of  the  three  days,  the  skins 
were  taken  out  perfectly  tanned.  The 
oiling,  stuffing,  blackening,  and  finishing 
is  conducted  in  the  same  manner  as 
when  tanned  in  the  old  way.  The  skins 
tanned  by  this  process  possess  different 
advantages  over  those  tanned  by  the 
old  method.  They  are  finer,  more  plia- 
ble and  durable,  and  more  impervious 
to  moisture,  and,  when  handsomely  fin- 
ished, are  equal  to  French  calf-leather. 


vivsw  OV  TllK  UANDI.rVO  MOCS8  IN  TUB  CLINTON  TANNEJUV, 


CHAPTER  X. 


EXAMPLE  OF  TANNING  OX-HIDES  FOR 
THE  MANUFACTURE  OF  IWTENT 
LEATHER. 


The  tanning  of  liides  for  tlie  manu- 
facture of  ixitent  leather  is  conducted  in 
tlie  same  way  as  the  tanning  of  other 


Handling-House. — The  handling-house  is  the  next  place- 
of  operating  upon  the  hides  after  they  have  been  suffi- 
ciently prepared  in  the  beam-house  ; for  the  manufacture 
of  good  leather  a great  deal  depends  upon  the  manipula- 
tion of  preparing  the  hides  in  the  beam-house.  They 
should  be  well  prepared  before.they  are  permitted  to  enter 
the  handling-room  for  the  action  of  the  tanning  principles. 
After  the  hides  are  deprived  of  their  hair,  and  properly 
softened  and  rinsed  in  the  beam-house,  they  are  piled  upon 
a truck  car,  and  conveyed  to  the  handling-house,  and  sub- 
jected to  a weak  solution  of  tanning  liquor  in  vats,  that 
are  furnished  with  paddle-wheels  for  handling  the  hides 


134 


EXAMPLE  OF 


kinds  of  leather,  with  a little  exception 
in  the  management  of  tlie  tanning.  This 
leather,  known  in  commerce  as  patent 
leather,  is  very  largely  nsed  for  dress 
boots  and  shoes,  and  for  fancy  mount- 
ings. There  are  various  methods  of 
manufacturing  it.  I will  here  give  an 
example  of  tanning  thirty  large  ox-hides 
for  japanning  and  enameling  purposes. 
After  they  are  unhaired  and  free  of 
lime^  or,  in  other  words,  well  prepared 
for  the  tanner,  we  will  subject  the  hides 
to  the  following  composition,  which  I 


and  agitating  the  tanning  liquors.  The  handling-house, 
as  it  is  in  Clinton  tannery,  is  represented  by  a wood 
engraving  in  front  of  this  chapter.  A full  view  of  this 
room  is  given  by  the  illustration.  The  handling  depart- 
ment occupies  26  feet  in  length  by  40  in  width  ; the 
right  end  of  the  engraving  represents  5 vats,  which  are  8 
feet  long,  4 feet  wide,  and  6 feet  deep— equivalent  to 
960  cubic  feet  of  tanning  room.  Each  of  the  vats  is 
furnished  with  a revolving  paddle-wheel ; the  wheels  are 
3 feet  and  10  inches  in  length,  and  54  feet  in  diameter,  or 
17  feet  in  circumference;  each  wheel  contains  11  pad- 
dles, 1 inch  thick  and  15  inches  wide,  and  placed  over  the 


TANNING  OX-HIDES. 


135 


shall  denominate  (see  corresponding 
number,  in  Composition  number  two, 
Chapter  VIII.)— 

Composition  Xo.  1. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  4th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  iimredients  in  hot 

O 

water  or  hot  bark  liquor,  whichever  is 
the  most  convenient.  After  they  are 


center  of  the  vat,  so  that  the  wheel  dips  13  inches  in  the 
liquor ; and  the  gearing  is  arranged  to  run  the  wheel  at 
the  rate  of  18  revolutions  to  the  minute.  The  center 
wheel  is  represented  as  in  full  motion:  if  they  are  permitted 
to  run  any  faster  they  will  not  perform  the  work  so  well. 
The  left  end  of  the  engraving  represents  3 vats,  which  are 
8 feet  long,  7 feet  wide,  and  6 feet  in  depth — equivalent  to 
1008  cubic  feet  of  tanning  room;  each  vat  is  furnished 
with  a handling-wheel,  6 feet  10  inches  in  length  and  5i 
feet  in  diameter,  and  placed  on  the  vat  the  same  as  stated 
before.  The  first  wheel  is  represented  as  being  in  motion. 
Tlie  illustration  shows  that  each  wheel  is  geared  inde- 


136 


EXAMPLE  OF 


dissolved,  pour  them  all  together  into 
the  vat,  and  run  in  a sufficient  quantity 
of  weak  bark  liquor.  Plunge  it  well 
up,  and  then  throw  in  the  hides.  If  the 
vat  has  a wheel  in  it,  it  should  be  run 
about  five  minutes  every  half-hour  for 
the  first  day.  I would  let  them  remain 
in  this  liquor  twenty-four  hours.  If  the 
handler  has  no  wheel  in  it,  the  hides 
must  be  handled  up  frequently  the  first 
day.  At  the  expiration  of  the  twenty- 
four  hours,  the  stock  must  be  removed. 


pendent  of  each  other  by  3 cog-wheels,  1 small  cog-wheel 
attached  to  an  iron  shaft  running  parallel  over  the  top  of 
the  handling-wheels,  with  a pulley  attached  to  the  one 
end  of  it,  and  is  forced  around  by  a belt  from  the  main 
shaft,  running  over  head  through  the  center  of  the  tan- 
nery. By  this  main  shaft  all  the  works  in  the  tannery  are 
run.  You  will  observe  that  a belt,  running  from  this 
main  shaft,  is  attached  to  a pulley  connected  with  the 
pumps.  The  pump  on  the  left  side  supplies  the  tannery 
with  new  liquors.  The  liquor  is  let  off  in  the  leaches, 
and  runs  unto  this  junk,  to  be  pumped  into  the  tan  pits 
when  required.  The  pump  on  the  right  side  is  used  for 
pumping  the  old  liquors  up  into  the  third  story,  and  run 
into  the  leaches ; it  is  first  let  off  in  the  tan  pit,  and  car- 


TANNING  OX-HIDES. 


137 


and  a new  liquor  prepared,  wliicli  I shall 
denominate — 

Composition  No.  2. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  4th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  usual, 
and  2)our  them  all  together  into  the  vat, 
and  run  in  a sufficient  quantity  of.  bark 
liquor  to  cover  the  hides.  Plunge  it 


ried  into  the  junks  by  pipes  or  conductors,  and  then 
pumped  into  other  vats  or  into  the  leaches  for  the  manu- 
facture of  new  liquors.  The  center  of  the  engraving 
represents  several  workmen  operating,  and  one  man 
fetching  a load  of  hides  in,  upon  a truck-car,  from  the 
beam-house,  ready  for  the  action  of  the  tanning  ooze. 
The  first  application  of  the  hides  should  be  to  a weak 
solution  of  tannin.  No  definite  length  of  time  can  be 
fixed  upon  for  running  the  wheels.  If  the  hides  are  sub- 
jected to  a liquor  containing  one  percent,  of  tannin,  they 
should  be  run  often  at  first;  if  the  liquor  is  weak,  they 
need  not  be  run  so  often.  The  wheels  should  never  be 
11 


138 


EXAMPLE  OF 


well,  and  then  throw  in  the  stock  and 
let  it  remain  in  this  composition  two 
days,  and  handle  frequently  each  day. 
At  the  end  of  the  two  days,  remove  the 
hides  and  prepare  a new  liquor  of  the 
following  proportions,  which  I shall 
denominate — 

Composition  No.  3. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  4th  ingredient. 


allowed  to  rua  longer  than  5 minutes  at  a time  (less  will 
do) ; they  should  be  run  once  every  half-hour,  or  once 
every  1 or  2 hours,  as  the  case  may  require.  The  wheel 
must  be  geared  for  the  face  of  it  to  move  at  the  rate 
of  18  revolutions  to  the  minute.  Cog  gearing  has  a de- 
cided advantage  over  belting,  as  the  motion  required  is  so 
slow  that  belts  are  often  found  troublesome.  The  motion 
wanted  is  slow  aud  steady,  which  can  be  best  had  with 
gearing.  It  will  be  observed  that  a belt  drives  the  shaft 
running  lengthwise  over  the  top  of  the  paddle-wheels; 
and  that  each  wheel  is  furnished  with  a pair  of  cog-wheels, 
and  a pinion  on  the  shaft  above  (which  is  loose),  and  is 


TANNING  OX-HIDES. 


139 


Dissolve  these  ingredients  the  same  as 
in  the  preceding  compositions.  After 
they  are  dissolved,  pour  them  all 
together  into  the  handler,  and  run  in 
a sufficient  quantity  of  bark  liquor ; 
plunge  it  well  together,  and  throw  in 
the  stock,  and  let  it  remain  in  this 
liquor  two  days.  Keep  it  well  handled 
during  that  time.  At  the  expiration 
of  the  two  days,  remove  the  hides 
and  prepare  a new  liquor,  which  I shall 
denominate — 


caught  with  a clutch,  forced  in  or  out  with  a small  iron 
lever.  These  wheels  are,  of  course,  independent  of  each 
other.  The  pair  of  iron  pulleys  on  the  end  of  this  shaft 
should  be  24  inches  diameter,  and  6-inch  turned  face;  the 
cog-wheels  24  to  26  inches  diameter,  2|-ineh  face  of  cog, 
with  pinion  one-fourth  the  size.  The  shaft  is,  therefore, 
moving  4 times  as  fast  as  the  paddle-wheels.  It  is  seldom 
necessary  to  run  more  than  1 or  2 wheels  at  the  same 
time ; therefore  a large  number  of  wheels  may  be  thus 
geared  to  the  same  driving  shaft,  and  with  but  one  belt 
for  the  whole  number.  It  will  also  be  observed  that  they 
are  plain  paddle-wheels,  operating  on  the  upper  portion 


140 


EXAMPLE  OF 


' Composition  No.  4. 

lbs.  of  tbe  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  tbe  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  fbe  3d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  tbe  4th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  usual, 
and  pour  them  into  the  handler,  and  run 
in  a sufficient  quantity  of  bark  liquor ; 
plunge  it  well,  and  then  throw  in  the 
stock,  and  let  it  remain  in  this  composi- 
tion two  days.  If  well  fed  and  properly 


of  the  liquor,  while  the  stock  being  handled  is  in.  the  vats^ 
entirely  loose  and  free,  and  moves  in  an  opposite  direction 
to  that  of  the  wheels.  A gentle  and  yet  effectual  motion 
is  given  to  the  stock  and  liquor  by  means  of  the  wheel, 
and  a semi-circular  (or  semi-elliptical  lengthwise)  false 
bottom  placed  in  the  vats.  This  false  bottom  should  be 
made  with  slats  of  inch-boards,  5 or  6 inches  wide,  an 
placed  across  the  vats  horizontally,  and  left  about  half  an 
inch  apart,  so  that  the  liquor  under  the  slats,  in  the  cor- 
ners of  the  vats,  will  circulate  among  the  hides,  and  so 
that  the  liquor  may  be  drawn  otf  while  the  stock  remains 
in  the  vat.  The  wheel  is  placed  across  and  over  the  cen- 


TANNING  OX-HIDES. 


141 


managed,  by  this  time  it  will  be  ready 
for  splitting. 


SPLITTING  MACHINE. 


The  leather  is  sometimes  prepared  for 
splitting  by  being  only  partially  dried. 
Hides  that  are  intended  for  japanning 
and  enameling  purposes  are  generally 
split  before  they  are  wholly  tanned,  as 


ter  of  the  vat,  and,  when  put  in  motion,  will  cause  the 
stock  to  move  up  in  front,  pass  under  the  wheel,  and  down 
on  the  back  end  of  the  vat,  by  the  action  of  the  floats  of 
the  handler;  and  a portion  of  the  liquor  urged  by  the 
motion  against  the  slats  at  one  end  of  the  vat,  finds  its 
way  between  them  and  rises  again  between  the  slats  of 
the  opposite  end,  thus  maintaining  a constant  circulation 
of  the  liquor  throughout  the  vat.  These  handlers  may 
be  advantageously  used  for  liming  and  bating,  as  well  as 
tanning.  The  semi-cylindrical  false  bottom  of  slats,  rest- 
ing on  the  bottom  of  the  vat,  is  an  inch  thick  and  18  inches 
wide,  the  center  of  which  is  in  the  center  of  the  vat, 
11* 


142 


EXAMPLE  OF 


the  quality  of  the  leather  is  thought  to 
be  improved  by  finishing  the  tanning 
after  they  have  been  thinned  or  divided 
by  the  machine. 

After  the  hides  are  split,  I would  sub- 
ject them  to  the  following  composition, 
which  I shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  5. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  4th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  usual, 


planed  on  the  upp^  side;  and  nailed  to  the  vat;  another 
piece  is  prepared  with  feather-edge  slats,  and  nailed  to  the 
end  of  the  vat,  about  half  the  way  between  the  bottom 
and  the  top.  The  remainder  of  the  false  bottom  is  made 
in  two  parts,  with  slats  placed  half  an  inch  apart,  and  with 
a space  of  about  half  an  inch  between  each  end  and  the 
sides  of  the  vat.  Tbe  lower  part  is  fastened  to  the  board 
with  leather  hinges,  the  upper  part  fastened  to  the  end 
with  a button.  This  arrangement  is  made  that  the  vat 
may  be  cleaned  when  required.  Care  must  be  taken  to 
have  the  false  bottom,  when  in  the  vat,  level.  The  vat& 
may  be  three-fourths,  or  less,  as  deep  as  they  are  long, — 


TANNING  OX-HIDES. 


145 


and  i:>our  them  into  the  vat  all  together, 
and  run  in  a sufficient  quantity  of  hark 
liquor  to  cover  the  stock  ; plunge  it  well 
iq^,  and  then  throw  in  the  splits,  and  let 
them  remain  in  this  composition  two  or 
three  days.  Handle  them  often  during 
that  time. 

If  a soft,  mild  substance  of  leather  is 
wanted,  use  the  fifth  ingredient  freely. 
The  second  and  fourth  ingredients  must 
not  he  used  in  this  part  of  the  tanning. 
At  the  expiration  of  the  above  time  the 


the  lower  part  of  the  semi-eylinder,  or  false  bottom  of  the 
slats,  resting  on  or  near  the  bottom  of  the  vat.  The  false 
bottom  should  be  made  a half-circle,  or  a \\&\{-elli2ms 
lengthwise,  and  formed  with  slats  of  inch  boards,  about  6 
inches  wide,  and  placed  in  the  vats  horizontally,  half  an 
inch  apart.  The  wheel  should  be  two-thirds  as  large  in 
diameter  as  is  the  diameter  of  the  cylindrical  bottom  or 
the  length  of  the  vat.  A vat  8 feet  long  may  be  6 feet,  or 
less,  deep ; and  the  wheel  5 feet  4 inches  diameter  ; the 
diameter  of  the  half-circle  in  the  vat  being  8 feet.  A 
wheel  of  this  size  should  have  10  paddles,  as  they  should 
be  about  18  inches  apart  on  the  outside  of  the  wheel.  Let 
the  wheel  be  placed  directly  over  the  center  of  the  vat,  and 


144 


EXAMPLE  OF 


stock  must  be  removed,  and  a new  liquor 
prepared,  which  I shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  6. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  4th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  usual, 
and  pour  them  into  the  handler  all 
together,  and  run  in  a suf&cient  quantity 
of  bark  liquor ; plunge  it  well,  and  then 
throw  in  the  stock.  Let  it  remain  in 


the  ends  of  the  wheel  must  work  within  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  of  the  side.  The  paddles  should  be  made  as  wide 
as  the  wheel  is  intended  to  work  in  the  vat ; that  will  be 
about  2 inches  wider  than  thej  are  intended  to  be  in  the 
liquor.  The  wheel  must  dip  down  2 inches  more  than  one- 
fifth  part  of  the  depth  of  the  vat  after  the  false  bottom  is 
in.  It  is  the  most  simple,  effectual,  and  scientific  mode  of 
moving  the  leather  in  the  liquor,  and  does  away  entirely 
with  the  necessity  of  handling  by  hand,  facilitates  the  pro- 
cess of  tanning  to  an  astonishing  degree,  saves  a great 
amount  of  labor,  forms  a handsome  grain,  and  in  all 
respects  improves  the  quality  and  texture  of  the  leather. 


TANNING  OX-HIDES. 


145 


this  comj)osition  until  it  is  tanned ; or,  if 
this  is  not  sufficient  to  tan  it  out,  give 
them  another  liquor  of  the  same  kind, 
and  tan  them  out.  Leather  tanned  by 
this  process,  for  japanning  and  enameling 
purjioses,  need  not  be  subjected  to  the 
additional  process  of  sumaching.  The 
stock  tanned  by  this  process  is  whiter 
and  brighter  than  any  other  tannage, 
and  is  more  lieautiful,  finer,  and  more 
pliable. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


EXAMPLE  OF  TANNING  FIFTY  SIDES  OF 
SOLE-LEATHER. 

The  tanning  of  sole-leather  by  this 
process  is  conducted  nearly  in  the  same 
way  as  tanning  with  Spanish  oak  bark : 
only  the  tanning  can  be  perfected  in 
about  one-fourth  of  the  usual  time,  and 
at  about  half  the  expense,  compared 
with  the  old  method  of  tanning.  Take 
twenty-five  hides  and  prepare  them  for 
the  tannin.  In  preparing,  they  are  split 
or  cut  in  half  along  the  back,  in  a line 
from  the  head  to  the  tail,  making  fifty 
sides.  After  having  been  well  prepared 


150 


EXAMPLE  OF 


for  the  tannin,  I would  subject  them  to 
the  following  composition,  which  I shall 
denominate — 

.(N.  B. — The  ingredients  are  recog- 
nized in  the  following  compositions  by 
numbers  corresponding  with  those  of 
Composition  number  one.  Chapter  VIII.) 

Composition  No.  L 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

, lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  4th  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5 th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  in  hot  water 
or  hot  bark  liquor.  After  they  are  dis- 
solved, pour  them  all  together  in  a vat, 
and  run  in  a sufficient  quantity  of  the 
fifth  run  of  bark  liquor  to  make  the 
liquor  cover  the  amount  of  stock  pro- 
]30sed  to  be  tanned.  Plunge  the  liquor 


TANNING  SOLE-LEATHER. 


151 


up  well,  and  then  throw  in  the  sides ; let 
them  remain  in  this  liquor  for  two  days. 
They  should  be  handled  once  every 
hour  during  this  time.'  On  the  first 
application  of  a hide  to  the  ooze,  I gen- 
erally run  the  wheels  once  every  half- 
hour,  say  about  five  minutes  at  a time, 
in  order  to  keep  the  liquor  and  stock 
well  agitated.  At  the  expiration  of  two 
days,  remove  the  stock  and  cast  off  the 
liquor.  Then  jirepare  a new  liquor  of 
the  following  proportions  of  ingredients, 
which  I shall  denominate — 

COOTOSITION  No.  2. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  the  same  as 

before.  After  they  are  dissolved,  pour 
12 


152 


EXAMPLE  OF 


them  all  together  into  the  vat,  and  use  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  the  fourth  run  of 
bark  liquor  to  cover  the  stock  in  the 
vat ; then  throw  in  the  sides,  and  let 
them  remain  in  this  liquor  two  days. 
They  must  be  handled  six  or  eight  times 
each  day  during  the  two  days.  The 
first  day,  the  wheel  should  be  run  about 
five  minutes  every  hour;  and  about  five 
minutes  every  two  hours  the  second  day. 
At  the  end  of  this  period  the  stock  must 
be  removed,  and  a new  liquor  made  of 
the  following  proportions  of  ingredients, 
which  I shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  3. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

..  lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  in  hot 


TANNING  SOLE-LEATHER. 


153 


water  or  hot  bark  liquor,  whichever  is 
most  convenient.  After  they  are  dis- 
solved, put  them  all  together  in  the  vat ; 
then  fill  the  vat  with  third  and  half  run 
of  bark  liquor ; plunge  it  up  well,  then 
throw  in  the  sides,  and  let  them  remain 
in  this  liquor  for  three  days  ; handle 
about  five  times  each  day.  At  the  end 
of  the  third  day,  the  stock  must  be 
removed  into  a stronger  liquor.  The 
liquor  of  number  three  can  be  used  for  a 
succeeding  pack,  and  a new  liquor  made 
of  the  following  proportions  for  the  first 
pack,  which  I shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  4. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 


Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  before 


154 


EXAMPLE  OF 


described.  When  they  are  dissolved, 
put  them  all  together  in  the  vat;  fill 
the  vat  with  the  third  run  of  bark 
liquor ; then  throw  in  the  sides,  and  let 
them  remain  in  this  liquor  three  days. 
Handle  about  four  or  five  times  each 
day.  While  the  stock  is  green,  it 
requires  more  attention  than  when 
nearly  or  about  tanned.  When  about 
this  stage,  it  absorbs  the  tannin  very 
fast,  and,  consequently,  requires  more 
attention.  Every  tanner  knows  (if  he 
don’t,  he  should,)  that  when  stock  be- 
comes nearly  tanned  it  receives  the 
tannin  much  slower  than  when  in  a 
green  state.  The  liquor  should  never 
be  allowed  to  remain  on  the  stock  after 
its  strength  is  exhausted,  for  it  will  do 
more  damage  in  one  day  than  can  be 
made  up  in  four.  At  the  end  of  the 
third  day  remove  the  sides.  Use  the 
old  liquor  for  a pack  not  so  far  advanced. 


TANNING  SOLE-LEATHER. 


155 


and  make  a new  liquor,  wkicli  I skall 
denominate — 

Composition  No.  5. 

lbs.  of  tbe  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  tbe  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  tbe  5tb  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  is  done 
in  tbe  preceding  compositions.  When 
they  are  dissolved,  pour  them  all  to- 
gether into  tbe  vat,  and  run  in  a suffi- 
cient quantity  of  tbe  second  run  of  bark 
liquor.  Plunge  it  well  together,  then 
throw  in  tbe  stock,  and  let  it  remain  in 
this  liquor  four  days.  Handle  three  or 
four  times  each  day  during  that  period. 
At  tbe  expiration  of  this  time  remove 
tbe  sides ; use  tbe  old  liquor  for  a suc- 
ceeding pack,  and  make  a liquor,  which 
I shall  denominate — 


12* 


156 


EXAMPLE  OF 


Composition  No.  6. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  tbe  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  tbe  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  tbe  5tb  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  in  bot 
water  or  bot  bark  liquor.  After  they 
are  dissolved,  pour  tbem  all  together 
into  tbe  vat ; then  run  in  a small  quan- 
tity of  tbe  first  and  balf  run  of  barb 
bquor,  and  plunge  it  up  v/ell ; and  then 
lay  tbe  sides  down  spread  out,  lying  or 
extending  lengthwise  of  tbe  vat,  with 
dusters  of  fine  ground  bark  between 
every  side  (what  tanners  generally  term 
laying  away),  and  let  tbem  lie  in  that 
condition  four  days  without  being  moved 
or, touched.  A representation  of  laying 
down  sides  of  leather  alternately  in  a 
vat  (what  tanners  generally  term  laying 
away)  is  shown  by  tbe  wood  engraving 


TANNING  SOLE-LEATHER. 


157 


in  front  of  tliis  chapter.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  the  four  days,  remove  the 
stock.  Use  the  old  liquor  for  a pack 
not  so  far  advanced  in  the  tanning,  and 
make  a new  liquor  of  the  following 
proportions  of  ingredients,  which  I shall 
denominate^ — 

Composition  No.  7. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  the  same  as 
the  preceding  composition.  After  they 
are  dissolved,  pour  them  all  together 
into  the  vat,  and  run  in  a sufficient  quan- 
tity of  the  first  run  of  bark  liquor ; then 
plunge  it  well  together;  and  then  lay 
the  sides  down  with  dusters,  as  de- 
scribed in  Composition  number  six,  and 
let  them  lie  in  'that  position  five  days. 


158 


EXAMPLE  OF 


In  some  tanneries  they  hang  their  stock 
across  the  middle  of  the  side,  in  the  vats, 
on  slats  running  across  the  vat,  with  the 
butt  and  head  down, — which  is  just  as 
good  for  some  kinds  of  stock  as  laying 
away.  These  ingredients  may  be  used 
in  the  same  way  for  hanging  the  stock 
in  the  vats,  as  for  laying  away,  with  the 
exception  of  using  the  ground  bark 
when  the  sides  are  hung  in  the  vats. 
The  liquor  must  be  kept  up  as  the  tan- 
ning advances.  The  liquor  should  be 
renewed  seasonably,  and  its  strength 
increased  in  a ratio  proportionate  to  each 
stage  of  tanning.  When  five  days  ex= 
pire,  remove  the  sides,  and  prepare  a new 
liquor,  which  I shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  8. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 


TANNING  SOLE-LEATHER. 


159 


Dissolve  these  ingredients  in  the  same 
way  as  the  former.  After  they  are  dis- 
solved, pour  them  into  the  vat  all 
together,  and  run  in  a sufficient  quantity 
of  very  strong  bark  liquor  ; then  plunge 
well  up,  and  lay  the  stock  down  with 
dusters,  as  usual.  Let  them  remain  in 
that  condition  six  days  without  being 
disturbed;  at  the  end  of  the  six  days 
remove  the  sides.  Use  the  old  liquor 
for  a succeeding  pack,  and  prepare  a 
new  liquor  of  the  following  ingredients, 
which  I shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  9. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredients 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  the  same  as 
in  the  preceding  compositions.  When 


160 


EXAMPLE  OF 


they  are  dissolved,  pour  them  all  to- 
gether into  the  vat ; then  run  in  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  real  strong  bark 
liquor,  and  plunge  it  well  up  ; then  lay 
the  sides  down  with  dusters,  as  usual, 
and  let  them  lie  in  that  position  seven 
days;  at  the  expiration  of  that  period 
take  the  stock  up  again,  and  prepare  a 
new  liquor,  which  I shall  denominate — 

Composition  No.  10. 

lbs.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lb.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  usual. 
After  they  are  dissolved,  pour  them  into 
the  vat,  and  run  in  a sufficient  quantity 
of  real  strong  bark  liquor ; plunge  well 
up ; then  lay  the  sides  down-  with 
dusters  of  bark,  as  usual,  and  let  them 


TANNING  SOLE-LEATHER. 


161 


lie  in  that  position  eight  days.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  period,  raise  the  stock 
out.  Use  the  old  liquor  for  a succeeding 
pack,  and  prepare  a new  liquor  of  the 
following  ingredients,  which  I shall 
denominate — 

Composition  No.  11. 

11)S.  of  the  1st  ingredient. 

Ihs.  of  the  2d  ingredient. 

Ihs.  of  the  3d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  the  5th  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  usual, 
and  pour  them  into  the  vat;  run  in  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  real  strong  bark 
liquor;  plunge  it  well;  then  lay  down 
the  stock  with  dusters,  as  usual,  and  let 
it  remain  in  that  condition  nine  days. 
At  the  expmation  of  that  period  remove 
the  sides,  and  prepare  a new  liquor, 
which  I shall  denominate — 


162 


EXAMPLE  OF 


Composition  No.  12. 

lbs.  of  tbe  1st  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  tbe  2d  ingredient. 

, lbs.  of  tbe  3d  ingredient. 

lbs.  of  tbe  5tb  ingredient. 

Dissolve  these  ingredients  as  nsual. 
After  they  are  dissolved,  pour  them  into 
tbe  vat,  and  run  in  a sufficient  quantity 
of  bark  liquor,  as  strong  as  it  can  be 
made.  Plunge  it  well  up,  so  that  it  will 
make  a liquor  about  forty  per  cent, 
strong.  Then  lay  tbe  stock  down  in  tbe 
vat,  with  dusters  of  fine  ground  bark 
between  every  side,  and  let  tbem  lie  in 
that  position  ten  days.  This  will  make 
sixty-tbree  days.  Tbe  heaviest  stock 
can  be  tanned  in  sixty  days.  I have 
frequently  tanned  sole-leather  in  forty 
days  by  tbe  judicious  use  of  strong 
liquors.  Leather  can  be  made  as  good 
in  forty  days  as  it  can  in  twelve  months. 


TANNING  SOLE-LEATHER. 


163 


Leather  tanned  in  forty  days  is  much 
heavier  than  that  in  the  long  tanning. 
When  these  ingredients  are  dissolved  in 
good,  hot,  soft  water,  and  mixed  with 
good  bark  liquor,  they  will  make  a 
superior  tanning  agent,  whose  active 
principles  are  very  soluble.  By  being 
gradually  extracted,  they  will  pene- 
trate uniformly  the  whole  of  the  ani- 
mal fibres,  instead  of  acting  chiefly  upon 
the  surface,  and  will  make  a heavy, 
solid  article  of  leather.  In  fact,  one 
hundred  pounds  of  dry  hides,  quickly 
tanned  in  good  liquor  made  with  this 
combination,  will  produce  about  one 
hundred  and  sixty-five  pounds  of  sole- 
leather;  while  one  hundred  pounds  of 
dry  hides,  slowly  tanned  in  the  old  way, 
with  bark  liquor,  produce  only  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-three  pounds.  The  addi- 
tion ab  twenty-t  wo  pounds’  weight  in  the 
quick  tanning  serve  materially  to  swell 

13 


164  EXAMPLE  OF  TANNIN&  SOLE-LEATHER. 


the  tanner’s  bill.  At  the  end  of  ten 
days  the  stock  may  be  taken  out  per- 
fectly tanned,  and,  in  less  than  three 
months,  it  may  be  finished  and  in 
market. 


VIEW  or  Tu7oVa»Tl.S-(!  BI,Or.-TH.  COKEKM  U...ESS.SO  »ND  n>'ISUISO  T.EA1.I 


CHAPTER  XIL 


CURRYING  AND  FINISHING  LEATHER. 

\ 

Currier. — The  word  currier  means  a 
dresser  of  leather.  The  derivation  of 
the  word  currier  is  from  the  Latin, — the 
term  for  skin  being  corium.  Both  the 
ancients  and  the  moderns  have  under- 
stood currying  as  the  preparation  of 
tanned  skins  for  the  purpose  of  impart- 
ing to  them  the  necessary  smoothness, 
color,  lustre,  and  suppleness.  Curried 
leather  receives  different  designations, 
according  to  the  modes  of  dressing  it 
which  are  employed, — as  tallowed 


168 


CURRYING  AND 


leather,  waxed  leather,  oiled  leather, 
grained  leather,  and  fair  leather,  &c. 

The  first  operation  of  the  currier  is 
that  of  dipping  the  leather  or  softening 
it.  For  this  purpose  the  skins  are  de- 
posited in  a tub  containing  water,  stand- 
ing alongside  of  the  table,  in  which  they 
are  allowed  to  remain  until  they  become 
sufficiently  moist ; or  else  they  are 
sprinkled  with  water  from  a brush  or 
broom,  which  is  a much  less  effectual 
method. 

Shaving  is  the  first  operation  of  the 
currier.  After  dipping  and  softening 
the  skins,  they  must  be  pared  or  shaved 
with  a curry ing-knife  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  uniformity  of  thickness  and 
regularity  of  surface.  When,  however, 
the  leather  presents  many  weak  and  thin 
parts,  this  operation  may  sometimes  be 
dispensed  with  or  postponed  until  these 
have  been  filled  up  by  the  action  of  the 


FINISHING  LEATHER. 


169 


stretching-iron.  While  preferences  are 
given  in  different  places  to  other  modes 
of  working  some  kinds  of  leather,  all 
kinds,  indifferently,  are  shaved  by  the 
currier.  In  some  tanneries  the  skins  are 
taken  from  the  tan-pit,  when  about  two- 
thirds  tanned  and  shaved,  to  reduce  the 
thick  parts  and  let  the  tannin  penetrate 
the  skin  uniformly.  It  is  termed  by 
some  pating,  and  by  others  skiving. 
This  operation,  however,  is  dispensed 
with  in  many  tanneries.  The  general 
plan  or  method  of  currying  and  dressing 
leather  is  about  the  same  in  principle, 
as  in  all  countries  they  use  oil,  tallow, 
and  labor,  to  make  the  leather  suitable 
for  the  different  manufactures  to  which 
it  may  be  applied.  The  state  of  the 
leather  at  the  time  of  their  application  has 
much  to  do  with  its  quality  and  general 
appearance  when  the  process  of  curfying 
is  completed.  In  many  parts  of  Europe 


170 


CURRYING  AND 


they  want  the  leather  perfectly  saturated 
with  oil,  which  they  believe  makes  it 
more  durable  in  wear.  In  France^  they 
want  a fine,  light,  soft,  and  mild  article 
of  leather,  but  not  so  deeply  saturated 
with  oil  as  to  darken  its  color.  In  Fmg- 
land^  the  public  want  a stout,  heavy, 
solid  article,  no  matter  v/hat  the  cost 
may  be,  as  they  find  it  cheaper  in  the 
end.  In  this  country,  we  have  a blend- 
ing together  of  the  whole,  as  our  ruling 
principle  is  to  get  the  most  we  can  for 
our  money.  We  find  all  grades,  kinds, 
and  qualities  of  leather  at  prices  to  suit 
the  purchaser,  while  our  best  leather  has 
ready  sale,  and  is  much  sought  for  in 
the  markets  of  Europe  and  Australia ; 
and  contracts  for  a constant  supply  of  it 
are  now  matters  of  daily  occurrence. 
Hence,  we  infer  that  we  have  facilities 
for  obtaining  materials.  Science,  skill, 
and  capital  are  employed  to  an  extent. 


FINISHING  LEATHER. 


171 


in  manufacturing  all  kinds  of  leather, 
that  will  ultimately  command  the  mar- 
kets of  the  world  without  fear  of  com- 
petition. A detailed  plan  of  our  mode 
of  currying  and  dressing  leather  may 
not  be  understood  by  all,  but  I will 
endeavor  to  make  it  as  plain  as  I can. 

After  the  skins  have  been  shaved, 
they  are  placed  upon  a marble  table  and 
the  flesh  side  scoured  out  completely 
Avith  a brush  and  clean  Avater.  After 
havmg  thus  been  Avell  Avorked,  the  flesh 
side  is  stretched  upon  the  same  table, 
and  the  hair  side  worked  Avdtli  a stone 
and  slicker,  and  scoured  to  extend  them 
thoroughly;  the  stretching-iron  is  then 
Avell  laid  on,  by  Avhich  process  all  the 
Avater  is  pressed  out.  The  skins  having 
in  this  way  been  freed  from  the  greater 
portion  of  their  watery  contents,  they 
may  be  held  in  readiness  for  the  appli- 
cation of  the  oil.  They  then  receive  a 


i 


1V2  CURRYING  AND 

light  coat  of  oil  on  the  grain  or  hair  side, 
and  are  hung  up  by  the  hind  shanks  to 
stiffen  or  sammey  (as  it  is  termed),  and 
are  then  exposed,  for  the  purpose  of 
drying,  either  in  the  open  air  or  within 
the  building, — one  hour’s  exposure 
usually  sufficing  in  summer,  while  in 
winter  many  more  are  required.  After 
being  sufficiently  dried,  they  are  taken 
down,  and  placed  upon  a marble  table, 
and  slicked  out  hard  on  the  flesh  side 
with  a slicker  or  stretching-iron.  After 
the  skins  have  thus  been  well  worked, 
they  receive  a mixture  of  oil  and  tallow, 
termed  dubbing^  upon  the  flesh  side. 
After  the  skins  have  received  their  coat- 
ing of  dubbing  upon  the  flesh  side,  and 
the  workman  has  uniformly  distributed 
it  over  the  surface  with  the  stuffing- 
cloth,  he  hangs  them  up  by  the  hind 
quarters,  and  allows  them  to  remain  in 
the  air  long  enough  to  absorb  their  con- 


FINISHING  LEATHER. 


173 


tents  of  stuffing,  taking  care  not  to  let 
them  be  exposed  to  the  extreme  heat  of 
the  sun  or  to  a great  draught  of  air,  for, 
if  they  are  dried  too  rapidly,  the  stuffing 
will  not  penetrate  them  in  the  gradual 
manner  necessary  for  the  perfection  of 
the  process.  Twenty-four  hours  of  ex- 
posure are  usually  sufficient  in  summer, 
Avhile  in  Avinter  tAA^o  or  three  days  are 
often  recpiired,  according  to  the  state  of 
tlie  Aveather.  After  the  skins  have  be- 
come  sufficiently  dry,  tliey  are  taken 
doAvn,  and  the  hair  side  placed  upon  a 
table,  and  the  remaining  dry  stuffing 
removed  from  the  flesh  side  by  the 
slicker.  They  are  then  submitted  to 
the  action  of  the  pommel,  and  are 
boarded  up.  These  instruments  are 
tliose  best  adapted  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  flexibility  and  a granular  appear- 
ance to  the  leather.  The  skin  is  first 
folded  with  its  grain  side  in  contact, 


174 


CURRYINQ  AND 


then  stretched  out  upon  a table  and 
rubbed  strongly  with  the  pommel,  or 
marguerite^  each  quarter  being  made  to 
slide  under  the  instrument,  over  the 
leather  below  it,  first  toward  the  center, 
and  then  back  to  its  original  position. 
This  mode  of  working  leather  makes  it 
extremely  flexible.  To  give  the  proper 
grain,  the  skin  is  then  stretched  out 
upon  the  flesh  side,  and  pommeled  from 
head  to  tail  and  crosswise.  After  the 
aforesaid  process  is  completed,  the  skins 
are  then  taken  to  the  beam  or  table  and 
whitened.  This  operation  is  performed 
by  some  with  the  currying  knife,  on  the 
beam ; and,  by  others,  the  skin  is 
stretched  out  upon  a table,  with  the 
grain  side  lying  upon  a piece  of  smooth 
leather,  fastened  to  the  table,  so  that  the 
skin  can  be  held  by  the  workman  and 
whitened  with  a whiting-slicker,  an 
instrument  made  expressly  for  that  pur- 


FINISHING  LEATHER. 


175 


pose.  The  latter  is  more  generally  used 
than  the  former.  The  skins  are  trimmed 
off  around  the  edges  with  a common 
knife,  and  then  about  two  or  three  dozen 
are  placed  upon  a table  for  the  applica- 
tion of  the  blacking.  The  blacking 
composition  is  made  of  oil,  tallow,  and 
lampblack.  The  skins  are  now  blacked 
while  still  upon  the  table,  and  are  moist- 
ened before  this  operation  if  they  have 
become  too  dry,  as  a certain  degree 
of  humidity  is  necessary  to  enable  them 
to  receive  the  color.  For  the  puipose  of 
blacking,  a mop  of  wool  or  brush  of 
horse-hair  is  dipped  in  the  composition 
and  the  flesh  side  is  thoroughly  rubbed  ^ 
with  it  in  every  direction.  After  the 
skins  have  received  a sufficient  quantity 
of  blacking,  a size  is  prepared  of  equal 
parts  of  glue  and  tallow,  made  to  the 
proper  consistency,  and  aj>plied  upon 
the  blacking  with  a hard  brush.  When 


1Y6 


CURRYING  AND 


sizing  sets,  apply  the  glass  slicker  over 
the  surface,  great  care  being  taken  to 
avoid  scratching  it,  and  a fine,  bright  fin- 
ish will  be  produced.  Gum  Arabic,  or 
fiax-seed  oil,  or  gum  dragon  may  be 
used,  which  will  also  produce  a fine, 
bright,  hard  finish. 

Hakxess  Leather  is  finished  about 
the  same  as  calf-skins,  with  a little  ex- 
ception. The  side  or  hide,  whichever  it 
may  be,  when  dry,  is  placed  upon  a 
table  and  properly  moistened  with 
chamber  ley  or  sal  soda.  A blacking 
composition  is  prepared  of  copperas, 
iron  rust,  and  bark  liquor.  The  black- 
ing is  applied  to  the  grain  side.  After 
the  application  of  the  blacking,  the 
workman  distributes  a thin  coat  of  hard 
tallow  upon  the  blacked  surface,  which 
is  well  stoned  in.  When  a fine  article 
is  desired,  apply  to  the  grain  side,  upon 
the  blacking,  a good  coat  of  stufiing,  and 


FINISHING  LEATHER. 


177 


hang  it  up  until  dry ; then  take  it  down, 
place  it  upon  a table,  and  slick  off  both 
the  grain  and  flesh  side,  care  being 
taken  not  to  scratch  the  finished  surface, 
and  a handsome,  smooth,  and  solid  finish 
will  be  produced. 

Blacked  Bridle  is  finished  the  same 
as  harness  leather. 

Busset  Bridle  is  shaved  and  scoured, 
and  generally  is  washed  with  a solution 
of  vitriol  and  water,  care  being  taken 
not  to  have  the  solution  too  strong. 
When  tanned  in  the  old  way,  with  bark 
alone,  it  must  be  subjected  to  a solution 
of  sumach  liquor  about  twelve  hours. 
(Tliis  operation  is  entirely  dispensed 
with  when  tanned  by  this  process  of 
tanning.)  After  being  sumach ed,  the 
leather  is  then  dipped  in  a tub  or  vat 
containing  a solution  of  sugar  of  lead 
and  vitriol,  mixed  in  proper  consistency 
with  a sufi&cient  quantity  of  hot  water. 

14 


178 


CURRYING  AND 


The  leather  is  plunged  in  and  out  until 
the  color  suits  the  taste  of  the  work- 
man; it  is  then  hung  up  to  sammey. 
When  partly  dry,  the  table  is  stuffed, 
and  the  side  is  placed  upon  the  stuffing 
on  the  table,  and  well  set  out  with  a 
•glass  slicker,  which  leaves  a smooth, 
solid  surface.  A little  oxalic  acid  and 
water  is  then  prepared  and  applied  upon 
the  grain  with  a brush  (which  must  be 
done  with  care),  and  a bright  russet 
leather  will  be  produced. 

Horse  Leather  is  finished  in  the  same 
way  as  harness  leather. 

Wax  Leather  is  finished  the  same  as 
calf-skins. 

Grahsted  Leather  is  finished  about 
the  same  as  harness  leather.  That  which 
is  intended  for  shoes  and  boots,  after  it 
is  shaved  to  a proper  thickness,  is 
pommeled  or  grained  for  the  purpose 
of  giving  to  the  leather  the  desired 


FINISHING  LEATHER. 


179 


finisb,  flexibility,  and  granular  appear- 
ance. 

This  kind  of  leather  is  used  chiefly  by 
shoemakers  for  the  uppers  of  large  shoes 
or  stoga  boots,  the  hair  side  being  placed 
out  against  the  frost  and  storms,  in  the 
same  way  as  Nature  placed  it  upon  the 
animal’s  body,  for  protection  against  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather. 

Patent  Leather. — This  leather, 
known  in  commerce  as  “ Patent 
Leather,”  is  very  largely  used  for 
dress  boots  and  shoes,  and  for  fancy 
mountings.  There  are  various  methods 
of  manufacturiug  it.  Tw^o  distinct  op- 
erations are  resorted  to  in  the  manu- 
facture of  polished  leather, — one  of 
which  is  the  preparation  of  the  surface 
for  receiving  the  varnish,  and  which  is 
effected  by  closing  the  pores  of  the 
leather,  and  making  a proper  ground  by 
repeatedly  rubbing  the  surface  with  pul- 


180 


CURRYING  AND 


verulent  substances,  and  incorporating 
them  witb  it ; and  tbe  other  is  the 
varnishing  of  the  leather  thus  dressed 
with  suitable  brilliant  and  transparent 
materials.  The  bases  or  medium  of  the 
substance  used  for  both  these  purposes 
is  linseed  oil,  made  drying  by  boiling 
with  metallic  oxides  or  salts,  and  reduced 
to  a sirupy  consistence  by  the  prolonged 
action  of  heat.  Five  gallons  of  linseed 
oil  are  boiled  with  four  pounds  four  and 
a half  ounces  of  white  lead,  and  the 
same  quantity  of  litharge,  each  in  a 
state  of  fine  division,  until  it  becomes  of 
the  consistence  of  thick  sirup.  This 
mixture  is  then  intimately  united  with 
one  of  the  ochres,  or  with  powdered 
chalk,  according  to  the  fineness  of  the 
skins  which  are  to  be  prepared,  and  is 
uniformly  spread  upon  either  side  of  the 
leather,  and  well  worked  into  the  pores 
with  appropriate  tools.  The  leather  is 


FINISHING  LEATHER. 


181 


dried,  after  the  application  of  each,  coat, 
by  hanging  it  up,  or,  what  is  better,  lay- 
ing it  out  upon  frames  or  racks  in  the 
drying  room.  The  success  of  the  whole 
process  depends  very  much  upon  the 
care  with  which  the  skins  prepared  with 
it  have  been  selected,  tanned,  and 
curried. 


u* 


F LEATIIEK  IN  THE  PALES  ROOM  OK  STOKE. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  TEXTURE  AND  QUALITY  OF  LEATHER. 

Leather. — The  manufacture  of  leather 
has  been  estimated  as  only  fourth  in 
importance  among  the  national  manu- 
factures of  Great  Britain.  Leather  is 
the  skin  of  animals  so  modified  by 
chemical  means  as  to  have  become  un- 
alterable by  the  external  agents  which 
tend  to  decompose  it  in  its  natural  state. 
It  is  evident,  from  what  has  already 
been  observed,  that  well-tanned  leather 
is  a homogeneous  substance,  entirely  free 
from  unchanged  gelatin  or  fibrin ; but 


186 


THE  TEXTURE  AND 


if  the  articles  used  in  its  preparation 
have  been  deficient  in  tanning  ingre- 
dients or  otherwise  wanting  in  quality ; 
if  the  various  processes  have  been  im- 
perfectly or  carelessly  performed ; or  if 
unforeseen  accidents  have  occurred,  the 
excellence  of  the  leather  is  impaired ; 
and  this  is  generally  to  be  discovered  by 
makiug  a section  of  it.  Well-tanned 
leather  exhibits,  when  cut,  a shining 
surface  and  compact  body,  and  is  of  a 
uniform  color,  except  upon  the  hair  side, 
and  has  a nutmeg  appearance  internally. 
Those  signs  are  commonly  looked  for  in 
the  tail,  the  back,  and  the  neck,  which 
are  the  thickest  parts  of  the  skin. 
Badly  made  or  inferior  leather  is  com- 
monly detected  by  its  section  being  of  a 
yellowish  or  blackish  color,  alternately 
with  streaks  of  a black  or  whitish  hue, 
and  by  its  structure  being  loose  and 
deficient  in  density  and  compactness ; 


QUALITY  OF  LEATHER. 


187 


and  a number  of  other  circumstances 
give  to  leather  a spongy  and  loose 
texture,  and  render  it  deficient  in  the 
requisite  color  and  durability.  These 
defects  are  of  such  a nature  that,  when 
once  tanned,  the  leather  cannot  be  im- 
proved or  restored  to  a better  condition. 
Some  hides  are  called  horny, — -parts  of 
which,  from  want  of  proper  softening, 
are  dry  and  almost  as  hard  as  horn  ; and 
these  are  entirely  unfit  for  shoe  or  boot 
leather,  as  the  tan  has  not  perfectly 
penetrated  the  hard  parts.  Others  con- 
tain extremely  minute  perforations  made 
by  worms,  which  allow  water  to  filter 
through,  and  render  them  useless  for 
either  sole-leather  or  carriage-tops. 
Many  hides  are  injured  by  the  butch- 
ers, who  damage  the  flesh  side  by  a 
reckless  manner  of  skinning.  These 
imperfections  can  only  be  remedied  by 
shaving  the  surface  down  to  a uniform 


188 


THE  TEXTURE  AND 


thickness,  at  the  risk  of  making  the  hide 
thin  and  weak.  Shoemakers  using  sole- 
leather  which  has  been  made  from 
hides  damaged  upon  the  hair  side,  either 
in  depilating,  in  paring,  or  in  rinsing 
them,  should  be  careful  to  place  the 
flesh  side  out ; otherwise,  as  soon  as  the 
hair  surface  has  become  a little  worn, 
the  sole  will  become  spongy  and  easily 
absorb  moisture.  A common  mode  of 
determining  the  quality  of  leather  is  to 
allow  a drop  of  water  to  fall  from  the 
end  of  the  finger  upon  the  hair  side,  on 
a cut  surface.  If  the  drop  preserves  its 
circular  form,  and  does  not  extend,  the 
leather  is  supposed  to  be  well  tanned ; 
while,  if  the  water  is  soon  absorbed,  it  is 
regarded  as  an  evidence  of  its  substance 
being  spongy  and  badly  prepared.  It  is 
believed  by  some  that  leather  is  im- 
proved in  quality  by  age ; and  it  is  a 
common  reproach  against  shoemakers 


QUALITY  OF  LEATHER. 


189 


that  they  make  use  of  too  fresh  mate- 
rials. Exposure  for  a certain  length  of 
time  is,  doubtless,  advantageous ; but 
leather  is  not  improved  by  being  kept 
longer  than  two  years ; and  is  apt,  after 
that  time,  to  diminish  in  weight, — 
making  it  necessary  to  store  it  in  damp 
cellars.  The  resistance  and  durability 
of  the  leather  made  into  soles  of  boots 
and  shoes  are  much  increased  by  their 
being  laid  aside  for  some  time  before 
being  worn.  The  coloring  of  leather 
during  the  process  of  tanning  arises  from 
a dark  brown  substance,  existing  more 
or  less  in  the  infusions  of  tanning  mate- 
rials, and  called,  by  Sir  Humphrey 
Davy,  apotheme.  This  sparingly  soluble 
substance  is  generated  by  the  oxidation 
of  extractive  matter,  and  is  gradually 
formed  when  infusions  of  tanning  mate- 
rials are  exposed  to  the  air, — all  the 
varieties  of  tannin  being,  to  a certain 


190 


THE  TEXTURE  AND 


extent,  liable  to  tMs  transformation. 
Hence  it  is  that  the  uppermost  hide  of 
the  vat,  being  the  most  exposed,  is  the 
most  highly  colored.  This  color,  or 
Uoom^  as  it  is  technically  termed,  varies 
somewhat  with  the  kind  of  tannin  em- 
ployed and  the  treatment  or  manage- 
ment during  the  process  of  tanning. 
Leather  tanned  with  materials  contain- 
ing the  gall  variety  and  ellagic  acid, 
or  the  pure  tannic  acid  of  tannin,  is 
bloomed  much  higher  and  handsomer 
than  with  any  other  coloring  matter, 
and  which  cannot  be  obtained  in  bark 
liquor  alone.  The  pale  or  bright  bloom 
or  color  is  the  product  of  the  decompo- 
sition of  strong  or  weak  tannin  respect- 
ively employed.  Weak  liquor  yields 
less  bloom,  and  stronger  more,  being 
richer  in  tannin.  When  properly  man- 
aged, the  bloom  attaches  itself  perma- 
nently to  the  animal  tissue  and  forms  a 


QUALITY  OF  LEATHER. 


191 


beautiful,  saleable  color.  The  fawn  color 
is  the  favorite  bloom.  In  this  quick  pro- 
cess, the  tannin  being  exposed  for  a much 
shorter  time,  yields  a richer  bloom  than 
by  the  old  and  lengthy  methods  of 
tanning.  Consequently,  as  time  is  an 
important  element  in  the  formation  of 
tanning,  by  this  process  we  diminish 
time,  labor,  and  expenses  materially. 
The  more  expeditiously  the  different 
processes  can  be  accomplished  the  bet- 
ter will  be  the  quality  of  leather  pro- 
duced. It  is  considered,  however,  by 
some,  that  it  may  be  tanned  too  rapidly 
to  be  good.  A greater  mistake  never 
was  entertained  by  any  intelligent  mind. 

After  the  leather  has  received  all  the 
necessary  operation  of  finishing,  it  is 
then  placed  in  the  sales-room  or  store 
for  the  examination  of  purchasers,  who 
generally  make  a very  close  and  accurate 

15 


192 


QUALITY  OF  LEATHER. 


examination  of  its  texture,  tannage,  and 
quality. 

An  examination  of  the  texture  and 
quality  of  leather,  in  the  commission 
house  or  store  room,  is  represented  by 
a wood  engraving  in  front  of  this 
chapter. 


: ■ 


’ /-■  • v’-  ' ' ’■  , • 


• V 


!>•*  _ . 


' ■ ^ A * "**' 


!'»■ 


V 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


REMARKS  ON  TANNING. 

The  views  I entertain  and  lierein 
endeavor  to  express  on  tliis  subject  are 
tlie  results  of  a practical  experience  in 
tlie  manufacture  of  leather  of  various 


* The  Clinton  Tannery. — In  the  old  method,  years  ago, 
tanners  were  usually  satisfied  to  locate  their  tanneries  in 
the  midst  of  a bark  forest,  upon  a small  spring,  with 
merely  a sufficient  quantity  of  water  for  the  manufac- 
turing purposes,  and  work  the  machinery  by  the  old  and 
tedious  process  generally  known  as  horse-power.  The 
principles  governing  this  reaction  have  been,  in  more 
recent  days,  developed  by  the  most  skillful  and  experi- 
enced manufacturers  of  leather.  The  combination  of  con- 
venience and  advantages  derived  from  water-power — the 
readiness  and  cheapness  with  which  bark  may  be  ob- 


196 


REMARKS 


kinds,  and  by  very  many  experiments, 
prompted  by  a desire  to  improve  in  tbe 
manufacture  of  one  of  tbe  first  and  most 
important  articles  of  every-day  con> 
sumption.  Perhaps  there  is  no  branch 
of  domestic  manufacturing  where  there 
is  so  much  room  for,  and  need  of,  im» 
provement,  as  in  the  tanning  of  leather. 
This  country  has  been,  and  still  is,  over- 
run with  patented  alleged  improvements 
in  every  branch  of  manufacturing  busi- 
ness ; and  great  improvements  in  almost 
every  branch  of  manufacturing  certainly 
have  been  made. 


tained — has  induced  the  tanner  at  once,  without  reflection^ 
to  locate  upon  Nature’s  elements,  a place  apparently 
formed  for  the  designed  purpose,  and  build  a factory  upon 
the  most  improved  plan  and  of  the  largest  size.  The  tan- 
nery is  a wooden  frame  building,  240  feet  in  length,  40 
feet  in  breadth,  and  3 stories  (each  8 feet  high).  Adjoin- 
ing the  north  end  of  the  tannery  is  a bark -house  90  feet 
long,  40  feet  wide,  and  16  feet  high,  with  windows  in  each 
side,  through  which  bark  is  received.  AVithin  the  area  of 
the  tannery  are  contained  76  vats,  affording  about  15,662 
cubic  feet  of  room  for  tanning  purposes,  with  sufficient 


ON  TANNING. 


197 


For  the  tanning  business  there  have 
been  but  few  patents  granted  which 
have  proved  useful ; yet  it  will  not  do, 
in  this  age  of  progress,  to  condemn,  un- 
tried, every  new  thing  that  may  be 
offered.  Let  every  alleged  improvement 
rest  entirely  upon  its  own  merits ; for, 
whatever  its  merits  may  be,  they  will,  in 
time,  be  known.  W e are  too  inquisitive 
a people  to  let  true  merit  languish  for 
want  of  encouragement.  Perhaps  no 
class  of  manufacturers  has  been  so  much 
humbugged  by  pretended  improvements 
as  tanners;  for  almost  everything  that 


conductors  for  drawing  the  liquor  to  the  pumps  or  junks — 
1 set  under  the  bottom  of  the  vats,  and  1 within  3 inches 
of  the  top.  Both  set  of  conductors  are  connected  with 
the  junks,  and  also  to  the  sewer  or  the  waste-way,  for  the 
purpose  of  conveying  oflF  waste  liquors  and  waters.  Each 
of  the  junks  are  furnished  with  a pump  of  sufficient  ca- 
pacity to  deliver  all  the  necessary  ooze  charged  with 
tannin.  Eight  of  the  aforesaid  vats  are  arranged  in  the 
handling-house,  furnished  with  paddle-wheels  for  handling 
stock ; 3 of  these  are  placed  on  one  side  and  6 on  the 
other.  The  beam-house  contains  13  vats — equivalent  to 
15* 


198 


REMARKS 


has  been  presented  has  utterly  failed  to 
answer  the  purposes  pretended.  There- 
fore it  is  quite  necessary  that  the  tanner 
be  cautious  in  adopting  anything  new ; 
for  his  business  is  one  requiring  a heavy 
outlay  of  capital,  and  any  unfortunate 
experiment  he  may  try  may  prove  a 
serious  loss.  But  if  an  improvement  be 
made,  and  then  fully  proved  and  demon- 
strated— proved  as  represented — then 
the  sooner  the  tanner  avails  himself  of 
the  advantage  of  it  the  better ; for  those 
who  take  hold  of  all  good  improvements 
in  their  business  are  those  that  are  most 
successful. 


4,098  cubic  feet — for  liming,  bating,  and  soaking  purposes. 
It  has  connected  with  it  a hide-mill  and  washing-machine, 
for  softening,  washing,  and  cleansing  the  hides.  There 
are  4 leaches — equivalent  to  5,120  cubic  feet  of  room — for 
extracting  the  tannin  from  bark  for  the  tanning  of  hides, 
which  are  furnished  with  two  copper  heaters.  The  upper 
or  north  end  of  the  tannery  is  built  against  a bank,  making 
the  second  story  on  a level  with  the  surface  of  the  earth. 
Under  the  north-east  corner  (in  the  tannery  connected 
with  the  beam-house)  is  a sweat  pit  (built  of  stone),  ar- 


ON  TANNING. 


199 


There  is  yet,  in  my  opinion,  much  to 
learn  in  the  art  and  mystery  of  tanning. 
It  is,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  a chem- 
ical process,  and  requires  much  practical 
experience  as  well  as  mental  research. 
What  is  tanning  but  a chemical  opera- 
tion from  the  beginning  to  the  end — 
changing  hides  into  leather  ? The  manu- 
facturing of  leather,  more  than  any  other 
mechanical  branch  of  business,  is  a chem- 
ical process,  almost  wholly  relying  upon 
the  skill  and  judgment  with  which'  the 
principles  of  tanning  are  conducted. 
To  attain  the  requisite  skill  in  the 


ranged  upon  the  most  approved  plan.  In  the  opposite 
comer,  on  the  same  level,  is  the  machinery  room,  where 
the  water-wheel  is  attached  to  the  gearing  for  the  purpose 
of  running  the  different  work  in  the  factory.  In  the  cen- 
ter, between  these  two  rooms,  is  a room  for  depositing 
ground  bark  after  falling  from  the  bark-mill,  which  is 
placed  on  the  second  story.  In  this  room,  under  the  bark 
mill,  are  elevators,  for  carrying  the  ground  bark  up  into 
the  third  story  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  leaches. 
See  Diagram,  which  is  represented  by  a wood  engraving 
in  front  of  this  chapter,  and  follows:  A is  the  bark- 


200 


REMARKS 


laboratory  of  the  chemist  is  evidently 
impossible.  It  can  only  be  acquired  in 
the  tanning  process  itself  by  careful  and 
close  observation.  The  question  has 
been  frequently  asked,  How  long  does 
it  take  to  tan  sole-leather  ? By  the  old 
method  of  tanning,  with  bark  alone,  it 
takes  from  eight  to  fifteen  months ; by 
this  system  of  tanning  it  takes  from  two 
to  three  months,  according  to  the  thick- 
ness of  the  sides,  the  strength  of  the 
liquor,  and  the  number  of  sides  in  the 
vats ; and  the  quicker  tanned  the  better. 
I would  here  remark,  that  several  con- 


room,  20  feet  in  length,  13  feet  in  width,  and  8 feet  high, 
made  very  close,  for  containing  fine  ground  bark  as  it  falls 
from  the  bark-mill,  and  preserved  until  conveyed  by  a 
truck-car  to  the  tan-pits  for  laying  away  the  stock.  B is 
a sweat  pit,  for  sweating  hides,  which  destroy,  dissolve,  or 
soften  the  bulbous  roots  of  the  hair  in  the  place  of  lime, 
and  thus  the  hair  is  removed ; this  room  is  built  of  stone, 
and  is,  in  the  area,  20  feet  in  length,  11  feet  in  width,  and 
8 feet  in  depth,  G is  the  machinery  department,  11  feet 
wide,  20  feet  long,  and  8 feet  high.  D is  the  water-wheel, 
placed  on  the  north-west  corner  of  the  tannery,  20  feet  in 


ON  TANNING. 


201 


siderations  must  be  noticed  in  order  to 
meet  the  questions  understandingly. 

Firsts  I should  say  that  the  hides  (as 
every  one  knows),  if  heavy ^ require  more 
time  than  if  comparatively  light. 

Second.,  If  the  hides  are  fresh,  they 
are  capable  of  being  properly  softened  ; 
and,  if  so,  the  process  of  tanning  can  be 
completed  much  sooner  than  in  case  of 
old  and  hard  hides,  that  cannot  be  soft- 
ened  with  the  same  facility. 

Third.,  If  the  hides  have  sufficient 
room  in  the  vat,  so  as  not  to  lie  crowded, 
they  will  tan  much  faster  than  when 
crowded. 


diameter,  and  8 feet  wide,  with  an  over-shot  power  equiv- 
alent to  60-horse  power,  driven  by  water  brought  from 
the  Schuylkill  River,  in  a race,  from  a dam  made  expressly 
for  that  purpose.  T is  the  water-wheel  shaft,  extending 
from  the  wheel  into  the  machinery-room,  and  there  con- 
nected by  gearing  to  the  work  in  the  tannery.  E is  an 
entrance  to  the  sweat  pit.  F is  an  entrance  to  the  ma- 
chinery room.  is  4 leaches,  each  16  feet  in  length,  8 
feet  in  width,  and  10  feet  in  depth ; the  4 leaches  will  con- 
tain 5,120  cubic  feet  of  bark  and  water  for  the  manufac- 


202 


REMARKS 


Fourth^  As  tlie  tanning  advances  the 
liquor  should  be  renewed  seasonably, 
and  its  strength  increased  in  a ratio  pro- 
portionable to  each  stage  of  tanning. 

Fifths  When  the  process  of  tanning 
is  once  commenced,  it  should  not  be 
allowed  to  cease  until  the  stock  is  com- 
pletely tanned ; and,  in  order  that  the 
process  may  be  continually  going  on,  the 
stock  requires  a constant  increase  of  the 
strength  of  the  liquor. 

Sixths  The  question  is.  Is  the  leather 
to  be  tanned  so  as  barely  to  pass  in 
market,  or  to  be  well  prepared,  so  as  to 
make  firm  and  solid  leather  ? This 


ture  of  tannin  ; the  bottom  of  the  leaches  are  3 feet  above 
the  level  of  the  top  of  the  tan-pits,  which  makes  them 
occupy  the  second  story  as  well  as  the  first;  the  room 
occupied  by  the  leaches,  furnaces,  and  entrance  to  the 
machinery  and  sweat-rooms  is  about  27  feet  lengthwise  in 
the  tannery,  and  the  full  width,  which  is  40  feet.  ^ is  2 
copper  heaters  (placed  in  the  bottom  of  the  leachers),  each 
3 feet  in  diameter  and  15  feet  long,  tapering  off  at  one  end 
to  12  inches  in  diameter;  the  12-inch  pipe  runs  four  times 
through  the  leaches,  and  enters  a stock  about  18  inches 


ON  TANNING. 


203 


involves  a consideration  of  much  im- 
portance. 

Seventh^  Is  it  reasonable  to  suppose 
that  it  requires  from  one  to  seven  years,  as 
we  are  told  it  formerly  did  in  England, 
to  make  leather  from  hides,  when  the 
same  work  can  be  accomplished  in  the 
space  of  three  months  ? 

But  persons  unacquainted  with  the 
nature  and  principles  of  tanning  gen- 
erally suppose  that  the  longer  time  skins 
are  undergoing  the  process  of  tanning 
the  better  will  be  the  quality  of  the 
leather  produced.  This  is  a great  mis- 
take. But  how  did  this  opinion  gain 

below  the  top  of  the  leach,  making  each  heater  1b  feet  in 
length,  including  the  small  and  large  portion ; each  heater 
^ runs  through  two  leaches.  J and  V is  the  mouth  of  the 
furnace  in  the  heaters,  where  fuel  enters  and  heat  is  ob- 
tained for  heating  the  leaches.  I is  the  stock  or  chimney, 
to  which  the  heaters  are  connected,  for  discharging  smoke 
and  gas  from  the  furnace.  .fiT  is  a hide-mill  or  fulling 
stock  (for  a full  description  see  Chapter  IV).  W is  a 
washing-machine  (for  particulars  see  Chapter  IV.,  page 
49).  F is  3 pools  for  soaking  dry  hides ; each  pool  is  9 


^04 


REMARKS 


€redence  and  become  so  general?  By 
(in  my  opinion)  tanners,  who  do  not 
understand  the  first  principles  of  their 
calling,  attempting  to  tan  quickly  by 
applying  strong  liquors,  at  first,  to  hides 
not  properly  cleansed  and  prepared  in 
the  beam-house  for  the  liquors,  and  by  a 
neglect  of  handling,  or  a proper  degree 
of  agitation  while  the  process  is  going 
on.  If  you  want  to  tan  quickly,  and 
produce  good  and  heavy  leather,  have 
your  skins  properly  prepared  in  the 
beam-house.  This  is  the  grand  starting- 
point  in  the  manufacture  of  good  leather, 
and  much  more  depends  upon  this 

feet  long,  5 feet  wide,  and  6 feet  deep, — which  will  hold 
810  cubic  feet  of  water ; this  soak  and  wash-room  occu- 
pies 18  feet  by  40.  L is  the  beam-house;  the  portion 
used  for  unhairing  and  bating  the  hides  is  48  feet  in  length 
and  40  feet  in  width,  making  the  beam-house,  soak  and 
wash-room  06  feet  in  length  and  40  feet  wide.  Jlf  is  6 
vats,  9 feet  long,  6 feet  wide,  and  6 feet  deep, — for  liming 
and  bating  purposes.  iV  is  4 vats  or  pools,  8 feet  long,  '7 
feet  wide,  and  6 feet  deep, — used  for  the  purpose  of  wash- 
ing and  rinsing  the  hides.  X is  a trap  door,  to  hoist  the 


ON  TANNING. 


205 


branch  of  the  manufacture  than  most 
tanners  suppose.  If  for  limed  stock, 
eitlier  for  uj^per  or  sole-leather,  have 
your  hides  in  good  order  for  the  lime, — 
that  is,  soft  enough,  but  not  too  soft,  for 
dried  skins  may  be  very  much  injured 
by  l)eing  softened  *too  much.  (A  hide, 
when  just  taken  from  the  animal,  should 
be  the  criterion  ; it  is  then  best  suited  for 
the  lime.)  Then  put  them  in  the  lime, 
and  have  them  frecpiently  agitated,  and 
keep  them  in  no  longer  than  will  be 
sufficient  to  loosen  the  hair  that  it  may 
be  removed.  After  the  hair  is  com- 
pletely removed,  the  skins  are  washed 

stock  up  into  the  upper  stories  by  means  of  a pulley  or  a 
hoisting  tackle.  Q is  the  handling-house,  26  feet  long  and 
40  feet  wide  (see  description  in  Chapter  X).  P is  2 
pumps,  for  pumping  the  liquors  from  the  junks,  which  are 
each  10  feet  square  and  12  feet  deep;  when  full,  will  hold 
2,400  cubic  feet  of  tanning  liquor.  is  8 handlers,  3 of 
which  are  7 feet  in  width,  8 feet  in  length,  and  6 feet  in 
depth;  the  5 on  the  opposite  side  are  4 feet  wide,  8 feet 
long,  and  6 feet  deep ; these  vats  are  used  for  the  first 
introduction  of  skins  to  the  tanning  ooze,  U is  68  tan 


206 


REMARKS 


in  a vat  full  of  water,  and  are  then  sub- 
jected to  a weak  liquor  at  first,  which 
must  be  gradually  strengthened  until 
the  stock  is  completely  tanned. 

Leather  is  an  article  of  universal  use. 
It  is  worn  by  the  civilized  and  by  the 
savage,  the  high  and  the  low,  the  rich  and 
the  poor  of  all  nations,  from  the  icy 
regions  of  the  north  to  the  burning 
sands  of  the  tropic.  It  was  known  and 
used  by  man  long  before  the  first  alphabet 
was  invented — before  the  waters  of  the 
deluge  had  rolled  over  the  face  of  our 
planet — before  the  Tower  of  Babel  was 


vats, — 24  of  which  are  8 feet  ia  length,  7 feet  in  width, 
and  feet  in  depth ; the  balance,  being  44  vats,  are  7^ 
feet  long,  3^  feet  wide,  and  5^  feet  deep.  0 is  the  doors 
for  passing  in  and  out  the  tannery.  72  is  a railroad,  of  2^^ 
feet  track,  running  through  the  center  of  the  tannery, 
running  from  the  bark-room  down  through  the  center,  and 
out  at  the  lower  end,  and  around  to  the  bank  of  the  river, 
for  carrying  out  the  waste  materials  and  carrying  the  stock 
through  the  different  parts  of  the  factory  ; and  also  a rail- 
road running  across  in  front  of  the  furnaces,  and  out  at 


ON  TANNING. 


207 


erected — or  the  foundations  of  the  ever- 
enduring  Pyramids  were  laid. 

Leather  is  an  article  of  manufacture, — 
entirely  a compound  substance,  a chem- 
ical product.  Although  it  is  made  of 
the  skins  of  animals,  it  is  as  different 
from  the  raw  material  as  oil — one  of 
its  two  ■ ingredients — is  from  soap. 
Skins  are  principally  composed  of  gela- 
tin, which  is  soluble  in  hot  water,  and  is 
converted  into  glue  by  repeated  steep- 
ings  in  warm  water.  Leather  is  simply 
the  raw  material  combined  with  other 
substances,  which  render  it  elastic  and 
insoluble  in  water.  Various  substances 


each  side,  down  on  the  lower  side  to  the  wood  and  coal- 
yard, and,  on  the  upper  side,  across  the  turnpike  to  the 
storehouse.  This  latter  road  is  for  carrying  hides  from 
the  warehouse  into  the  tannery,  and  the  leather  into  the 
warehouse,  and  also  for  bringing  fuel  into  the  factory  for 
heating  purposes.  The  second  story  of  the  building  is 
occupied  for  finishing  purposes,  and  is  furnished  with  a 
railroad,  running  through  the  center  from  one  end  to  the 
other,  for  the  convenience  of  the  workmen.  The  third 
story  is  used  for  drying  the  stock,  which  is  also  possessed 


208 


REMARKS 


are  employed  to  obtain  tbis  result ; and 
different  qualities  of  leather  are  pro- 
duced by  the  different  ingredients  em- 
ployed and  the  modes  of  using  them  in 
its  manufacture. 

The  process  of  manufacture  is  named 
tanning,  and  the  principal  substance  em- 
ployed is  tannic  acid.  This  acid  is  found 
in  various  substances.  Good  upper- 
leather  should  have  the  following  quali- 
ties,— elasticity,  softness,  and  insolubility 
in  water.  Good  sole-leather  should  be 
close  in  the  grain,  firm,  but  slightly 
elastic,  and  perfectly  water-proof.  Tan- 
nic acid  is  extracted  from  various  sub- 


with  the  convenience  of  a railroad.  The  bark-shed,  on 
the  north  end  of  the  factory,  is  90  feet  long,  40  feet  wide,, 
and  16  feet  high,  with  a railroad  in  the  center,  running 
from  the  upper  or  north  end  down  to  the  bark-mill.  The 
floor  of  the  shed  is  on  a level  with  the  floor  in  the  second 
story  of  the  tannery.  The  shed  will  hold,  when  full,  450 
cords  of  bark,  besides  other  sheds  of  similar  size,  within 
one  and  three  hundred  yards  distant  from  the  factory,  but 
connected  by  railroad. 

This  commodious  edifice  is  situated  on  the  east  bank  of 


ON  TANNING. 


200 


stances  containing  tannin,  by  immersing 
those  ingredients  in  hot  water,  and  there- 
by forming  a decoction  of  tanning  ooze. 
By  simply  steeping  the  hides  in  this  tan- 
liquor,  the  tannin  leaves  the  Avater,  com- 
bines Avith  the  gelatine  of  the  skin 
chemically,  and  forms  our  “ understand- 
ings,” which  Ave  term  Leather.  This  is 
the  theory  of  tanning  ; but,  in  carrying 
it  into  practice,  the  manipulations  are  ex- 
ceedingly various,  and  the  qualities  of  the 
leather  manufactured  depend  on  a very 
extensive  range  of  processes,  machinery, 
and  chemical  substances.  All  the  pro- 
cesses of  tanning  are  laborious,  expensive. 


the  Schuylkill  River,  about  miles  from  Clinton  Village, 
which  is  situated  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  nearly 
opposite  the  tannery.  The  factory  is  about  one  mile  from 
the  Kittanning  or  Blue  Mountains,  where  bark  is  obtained 
in  an  abundance  at  a very  small  cost,  and  is  used  in  con- 
nection with  ray  chemicals.  The  main  road  or  turnpike 
from  Pottsville  to  Reading  is  about  20  yards  distant,  and 
parallel  with  the  front  of  the  tannery.  On  the  same  level, 
about  100  yards  from  the  tannery,  is  a storehouse,  20  feet 
by  50,  and  2 stories  high.  On  the  same  side  of  the  road, 
16* 


210 


REMAKKS 


and  tedious.  It  formerly  required  months 
and  years  to  tan  leather  from  hides ; and 
the  cost  of  manufacturing  leather  from 
the  raw  material  amounted  to  millions 
of  dollars  annually ; hut  now  time  and 
expense  are  materially  reduced. 

Inventive  genius  has  done  wonders  in 
facilitating  chemico-physical  processes  of 
this  art.  Only  think  for  a moment  of 
the  change  which  has  come  over  the 
spirit  of  the  tanner’s  dream.  Three,  and 
even  seven  years,  were  once  considered 
necessary  for  the  perfection  of  certain 
kinds  of  leather,' — such  as  that  which 
furnishes  our  shoe -soles.  The  machinery- 


a short  distance  above  the  storehouse,  are  about  20  dwell- 
ing houses,  and  also  a fine,  comnaodious  hotel,  and  several 
mechanical  shops.  This  commodious  factory,  and  all  the 
convenience  of  water  power,  and  facilities  of  shipping 
hides  and  leather,  are  represented  by  a wood  engraving 
in  front  of  this  chapter.  About  400  yards  from  the  north 
end  of  the  tannery — which  is  seen  on  the  engraving — is  a 
bridge,  built  across  the  Schuylkill  River,  through  which 
is  a road  leading  up  to  Clinton,  which  is  also  seen  in  a 
distant  view  from  the  factory.  About  300  yards  from  the 


ON  TANNING. 


211 


aided  process  by  ivbicb  these  wonders 
have  been  accomplished,  has  been  known 
and  used  in  this  country  for  some  years. 

By  the  aid  of  this  new  process,  whose 
principle  is  to  bring  the  skins  into  rap- 
idly-repeated contact  with  the  tanning 
liquor,  leather  is  formed  more  rapidly 
and  expeditiously,  and  of  a better  qual- 
ity. But  no  important  improvement 
in  any  manufacturing  liusiness  can 
come  into  general  use  without  the  co- 
operation of  enei'getic  business  men 
engaged  in  it. 

In  this  age  of  improvements  it  cannot 


tannery  is  a dam,  built  across  the  river,  30  feet  high,  by 
the  Schuylkill  Navigation  Company,  for  the  use  of  their 
canal.  A little  above  the  dam  is  a race,  made  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supplying  the  factory  with  water,  affording  a very 
extensive  power  to  turn  the  different  machinery  or  works 
in  the  tannery ; and  also  a tail-race  or  waste- way,  lor  car- 
rying the  waste  water  from  the  factory  into  the  river.  On 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  the  tannery,  between 
the  river  and  Clinton  Village,  is  a canal,  or  the  Schuylkill 
Navigation  ; and  between  the  canal  and  the  village  is  seen 


212 


REMARKS 


possibly  be  considered  a fixed  fact  that 
everything  has  arrived  at  its  “ manifest 
destiny”  of  perfection.  There  is  room 
for  improvements  in  every  branch  of 
manufacturing  business.  As  to  the  art 
of  tanning,  I consider  it  yet  in  its 
infancy. 

The  only  way  to  progress  is  to  make 
efforts  to  improve ; and  the  failure  of  a 
thousand  plans  should  never  be  held  up 
as  a bugbear,  or  a barrier  to  arrest  the 
introduction  and  trial  of  a new  and 
reasonable  process  to  improve  any  art. 
It  is  my  opinion  that  improvements  will 


on  the  engraving  the  Reading  Railroad,  running  from 
Philadelphia  to  Reading  and  Pottsville.  The  railroad 
depot  is  also  represented  by  the  engraving,  which  is  one 
mile  from  the  tannery. 

This  large  leather  factory,  referred  to  in  the  illustration, 
was  constructed  upon  my  improved  plan,  and  produces 
double  the  amount  of  tanned  leather  in  one  year  than  any 
other  tannery  in  the  State  of  the  same  size  and  expense. 
This  factory  is  tanning  about  16,000  sides  a year,  besides 
a great  number  of  small  skins.  At  the  Clinton  Tannery 


ON  TANNING. 


213 


yet  be  made  in  the  manufacture  of 
leatlier  of  sucli  a character  as  will 
reduce  its  manufacturing  cost  at  least 
one-lialf. 

After  several  years’  experimenting  in 
the  tanning  of  leather,  and  in  trying  to 
facilitate  and  expedite  the  process  of 
manufacturing  it, — I was  very  successful. 
However,  experimenting  with  a variety 
of  materials  is  very  tedious,  laborious, 
and  expensive.  In  a pursuit  of  this  kind 
the  patience  of  Job  is  often  required. 
Atteni]3ts  at  improvement,  perseveringly 
repeated,  ivill  in  the  end  seldom  fail. 


the  greatest  strength  of  liquors  used  for  handling,  as  indi- 
cated by  Pike's  barkometer,  is  13  degrees  ; that  employed 
in  laying  away  varies  from  35  to  50  degrees.  Much  care 
and  judgment  is  necessary  in  proportioning  the  continually 
increasing  strength  of  the  liquors  to  the  requirements  of 
the  leather  in  different  stages  of  the  process.  A glance  at 
the  illustration,  and  also  at  these  notes,  will  at  once  con- 
vince any  one  that  the  advantages  of  such  an  establishment 
can  not  be  surpassed  by  any  other  in  the  States. 


the  coat-of-vkms  of  the  ttnited  states. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


THE  MECIIAMC’S  TRUE  POSITION. 


In  passing  through  our  land  and  ob- 
serving the  young,  the  eager,  and  the 
intelligent  who  are  destined  hereafter  to 
fill  high  posts  of  trust  and  honor, — that 
from  these  would  come  your  princely 
merchants,  your  aldermen,  mayors,  rep- 
resentatives, men  of  iron  nerves,  warm 
hearts,  and  clear  heads,  ready  to  com- 
pete for  the  highest  places  in  the  pulpit, 
at  the  bar,  or  on  the  forum,  and  even, 
perhaps,  the  highest  office  in  the  gift  of 
a free  people, — why  may  they  not  rank. 


218 


THE  mechanic’s 


by  their  industry,  intelligence,  and  vir- 
tue, among  those  whom  America  will  be 
proud  to  number  among  her  devoted 


TRUE  SON  OF  AMERIOA, 


and  patriotic  sons?  IS^ot  for  ourselves 
alone  is  the  grand  law  of  Nature 
inscribed  on  all  the  Creator’s  works, — 
not  for  ourselves  alone,  but  for  others, 
does  the  sun  dispense  his  beams, — not 
for  ourselves  alone  do  the  clouds  distil 
their  showers  nor  the  teeming  earth 
unlock  her  treasures!  So,  my  brother 
mechanics,  it  is  not  for  ourselves  alone, 
but  for  others,  and  for  all,  that  the 


TRUE  POSITIOX. 


219 


blessings  of  beaveii  are  so  plentifully 
bestowed  upon  man.  All  that  any  of 
us  can  say  is,  tliat  we  are  tlie  almoners 
of  God’s  bounty,  and  tliat  what  consti- 
tutes the  true  wealth  of  this  great 
country — it  is  labor ! Fix  it  as  you 
will — let  wlio  will  live  upon  our  bread 
and  meat — still,  labor  lies  at  the  founda- 
tion of  all,  and,  without  it,  neither 
society  nor  civilization  could  exist.  He 
who  derides  labor,  or  undervalues  it, 
strikes  at  the  order  of  Nature,  the 
foundations  of  society — at  civilization, 
and  at  Christianity  itself.  Labor  is  the 
very  Gold  of  Ophir — the  true,  intrinsic 
wealth  of  a nation.  The  gold  of  elo- 
quence or  the  silver  of  rhetoric  I have 
none,  but  such  as  I have  give  I unto 
you. 


17 


220 


THE  mechanic’s 


THE  FARMER  PLOWING. 


Tlie  hardy  tillers  of  the  soil  are  the 
foundation,  and  onr  industrious,  working 
mechanics,  the  builders  of  our  mighty 
fabric  of  national  wealth,  independence, 
and  happiness.  The  laboring  men  and 
mechanics  of  our  country  are  the  true 
bone  and  sinew  of  the  land — the  main- 
spring and  support  of  the  machine  of 
government.  They  are,  in  truth,  the 
creators  of  a nation’s  wealth — the  great 
artificers  of  national  prosperity.  If  the 
tyrant,  Louis  XIV.,  in  the  glory  of 
his  most  splendid  reign,  could  utter,  in 
the  pride  of  his  borrowed  royalty,  the 


TRUE  POSITION. 


221 


sentence,  “I  am  tlie  State,”  witli  liow 
much  more  truth  can  we,  the  working 
men  of  the  nation,  say — and  how  much 
moi’e  noble  and  true  does  it  sound  w^hen 
we,  the  people,  say — “AYe  are  the 
State  ? ” AA^here  the  mechanics  are 
down-trodden  and  depressed — made 
hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water 
to  those  who  have  robbed  them  of  their 
rights — there,  such  a monster  as  Louis, 
and  other  crowned  heads,  might  well 
say,  “ I am  the  State.”  But  let  labor  he 
honored  as  it  is  here — let  light  be  shed 
upon  the  great  depths  of  despotism  as  we 
now  see  it  lieginning  to  beam  in  Eu- 
rope— and  you  will  see  the  people  there, 
as  here,  rising  in  their  majesty  and  say- 
ing to  their  banished  monarchs,  “AYe 
are  the  State.”  Let  there  be  no  more 
kings  nor  queens  ! The  mechanic  is  not 
only  the  architect  and  builder  of  his  own 
fortune,  of  society’s  and  of  a nation’s 


222 


THE  MECHANIC  S 


prosperity,  but  his  is  one  of  the  most 
independent  classes  in  the  community. 
The  professional  man  depends  upon  his 
mental  gifts  or  acquirements ; and  when 
he  fails  to  gain  the  popular  favor,  or,  by 
some  sudden  change,  loses  it,  he  is  put  to 
desperate  shift's  to  earn  a livelihood. 
You  have  seen  the  crest-fallen  lawyer,  or 
the  proud  statesman  or  politician,  hum- 
bly suing  for  aid  at  the  comfortable 
fire-side  of  the  mechanic.  The  skillful 
artisan  is  an  independent  man ; for,  place 
him  in  whatever  part  of  the  world  you 
may,  he  can  always  secure  his  bread, 
because  he  is  capable  of  doing  something 
that  is  useful  to  his  fellow-man.  The 
story  of  the  two  men  cast  away  among 
savages  is  an  apt  illustration.  One  was 
a gentleman,  the  other  a basket-maker ; 
the  basket-maker  was  well  treated  be- 
cause he  could  do  something  for  himself ; 
but  the  savages,  in  their  simplicity,  could 


TRUE  POSITION. 


223 


not  understand  what  a gentleman  is, 
and  tlie  basket-maker’s  handiwork  saved 
the  poor  gentleman  from  starving.  In 
the  circles  where  true  refinement  never 
dwells,  you  may  hear  the  expression 
sometimes  used,  as  if  in  derision  or  com- 
miseration, “ O,  he  is  only  a working 
mechanic !”  It  may  seem  strange,  but 
tliere  are  men,  and  Avomen,  too,  avIio  can 
boa.st  no  other  lineage  themselves,  and 
Avho,  Avhen  told  of  this  poor  man’s  mis- 
fortune, or  that  man’s  sudden  fall,  pass 
over  the  matter  Avith  the  cold  remark  of, 
“ He  is  only  a mechanic !”  There  are 
more  hapjAy,  prosperous,  noble  men 
among  tlie  la1)oring  mechanics  of  this, 
our  land,  than  in  any  other  class  of  equal 
numbers.  There  Avas  a certain  man, 
called  Felix,  in  the  Scriptures , his  coun- 
trymen Avere  a proud  race,  and  hated  the 
laboring  mechanic;  but  one  of  these 
despised  men — a tent-maker — made  this 

17* 


224 


THE  mechanic’s 


same  Felix  tremble,  altbough  only  a me- 
cbanic.  Noah  was  a shipwright;  Solo- 
mon an  architect;  and  those  who  built 
the  pyramids,  and  planned  the  ancient 
cities,  whose  ruins  all  the  historians, 
philosophers,  and  learned  men  of  mod- 
ern times  are  yet  unable  fully  to  ex- 
plain,— the  great  temples  of  the  holy  city 
of  Jerusalem, — the  renowned  structures 
of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  of  Balbec  and  Perse- 
polis,  of  Babylon  and  Palmyra,  Thebes 
and  Memphis, — wondrous  monuments  of 
the  East,  whose  magnificence  no  modern 
art  can  excel, — who  built  them  ? O,  it 
was  only  mechanics ! And  then,  who  was 
the  first  mechanic  ? The  great  Author 
of  our  being,  that  first  built  the  world ; 
and  then,  as  the  sublimity  of  mechanism. 
He  made  us  ‘‘fearfully  and  wonder- 
fully.” Give  your  attention  for  a mo- 
ment to  the  impulse  given  to  modern 
improvement  and  the  change  wrought 


TRUE  POSITION. 


225. 


upon  the  h\ce  of  the  whole  world  by 
the  invention  of  Faust,  who  gave  light 
and  knowledge  to  all  mankind.  To  the 
discovei’ies  of  Columbus,  the  science  of 


BEXJAMI.V  FRANKLIN  SETTING  TYPE. 


Franklin,  the  ingenuity  of  Arkwright^ 
the  genius  of  Fulton  and  of  Whitney, — 
mechanics  all, — what  does  this  nation 
owe  ? — what  does  the  civilized  world  owe^ 
to  these  great  men  ? All  the  improve- 
ments that  were  ever  made  by  all  the 
kings  and  emperors,  and  by  all  the 


226 


THE  mechanic’s 


artists,  poets,  philosophers,  and  states- 
men that  ever  lived,  yon  may  pile  up  in 
one  scale,  and  they  are  outweighed  by 
the  discoveries  of  Faust,  Fulton,  and 
Whitney ; and  yet  these  men  earned 
their  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brow ! 
We  have  a right  to  be  proud  that 
Franklin,  and  Fulton,  and  Whitney 
were  all  countrymen  of  ours,  although 
only  mechanics.  Young  as  we  are  as  a 
nation,  such  is  the  free  scope  and  tend- 
ency of  our  institutions,  and  the  salubrity 
of  our  glorious  climate,  to  foster  the  full 
energies  of  the  mind  and  to  produce  the 
whole  man,  that,  in  all  the  useful  me- 
chanic arts,  we  are  outstripping  the 
nations  of  the  old  world.  In  arts,  and 
in  arms,  and  in  every  worldly  pursuit  of 
man,  our  advancement  stands  unequaled 
since  the  world  began.  You  all  have 
duties  to  perform  as  citizens,  neighbors, 
members  of  the  great  community  of 


TRUE  POSITION. 


227 


working  and  active  men.  Rome  was 
not  built  in  a day  ; nor  can  anything 
great  or  noble  in  liuman  ingenuity  be 
accomplished  without  labor.  It  is  the 
boast  of  the  workingman  that  he  can  do 
what  he  says.  The  mechanics  of  our 
country,  active  and  intelligent  as  they 
are,  may  })roudly  hold  up  their  heads,  as 
a body,  and  say  boldly  to  the  politicians 
and  the  orators  of  the  day,  “ What  you 
promise  we  perform.”  While  making 
some  observations  on  this  glorious  re- 
public, destined  to  l^e  the  greatest  in  the 
world,  for  evidences  not  only  of  what 
mechanics  can  do,  but  Avhat  they  have 
done,  go  into  your  public  edifices,  your 
exchanges,  your  temples  devoted  to  the 
Avorship  of  God,  and  your  halls  of  edm 
cation,  and  there  you  will  see  the  handi- 
Avork  of  labor.  Look  into  your  banks, 
your  city  councils,  and  then  abroad  into 
your  States,  and  the  most  successful,  the 


228 


THE  mechanic’s 


most  illustrious  and  beloved,  are  tbe 
ones  who  early  learned  tbe  lesson  of 
labor  and  bow  to  tbink  for  themselves  ; 
tbey  were  always  up  to  tbeir  business, 
but  never  above  it. 

There  are  two  great  levers  which  sus- 
tain us, — the  one  is  employment ; the 
other,  the  knowledge  of  how  to  regulate 
and  improve  it.  In  other  words,  they 
are  the  union  of  occupation  and  instruc- 
tion. Nothing  can  give  more  satisfaction 
to  the  mind  than  the  enjoyment  of  the 
necessaries  and  comforts  of  life  flowing 
from  the  industry  of  him  who  earns 
them.  This  is  the  fruit  of  occupation  ; 
and  the  improvements  of  society  follow 
in  proportion  as  the  occupied  mind  ad- 
vances in  proper  cultivation.  The  absurd 
idea,  that  labor  is  inconsistent  with  learn- 
ing or  respectability,  is  one  of  the 
errors  of  weak  minds,  ignorant  of  the 
nature  of  the  ligaments  which  bind 


TRUE  POSITION. 


229 


society  together.  It  is  one  of  the  follies 
of  antiquated  fashion  which  is  passing 
away ; and  we  are  now  l^eginning  to 
consider  the  mechanic  trades,  and  all 
hranches  of  honest  industry,  as  the  co- 
ordinate and  necessary  associates  of 
education,  integrity  and  manliness.  The 
history  of  the  social  operations  of  man- 
kind teaches  us  that,  in  all  periods  of 
time,  they  have  altered  the  destinies  of 
individuals  as  well  as  of  nations,  and 
have  had  their  influence  upon  ages  to 
come.  The  physical  industry  of  man  is 
certainly  a high  quality;  but,  vigorous 
as  it  is,  it  gains  so  much  by  its  associa- 
tion with  a cultivated  intellect,  that 
while  the  one,  when  alone,  resembles  the 
rough  materials  of  handicraft,  and  the 
other  the  latent  genius  that  is  to  fashion 
them,  they,  both  united,  represent  the 
perfection  of  skill  and  its  fruitful  appli- 
cation to  the  production  of  human  hap- 


^30 


THE  MECHANIC  S 


piness.  In  former  days,  trades  were 
merely  physical ; none  of  the  sciences, 
and  but  few  branches  of  the  fine  arts, 
entered  into  their  action.  True,  there 
were  some  few  exceptions,  dependent 
upon  individual  condition  and  scholar- 
ship ; but,  generally,  labor  in  any  calling 
was  strictly  and  exclusively  mechanical. 
There  is  now,  however,  a progressive 
spirit  which  belongs  to  the  times. 
Whether  it  has  resulted  from  the  insti- 
tutions of  this  country — which,  by  cast- 
ing off  the  trammels  of  political  tyranny, 
and  by  the  abundance  of  our  land  for 
an  easy  support,  have  enabled  men  to 
think  more  freely  and  consistently  with 
the  object  of  their  creation  and  posi- 
tion— or  is  a part  of  a pervading  princi- 
ple which  the  Divine  Being  has  permitted 
to  spread  through  the  world,  is  a prob- 
lem for  solution.  Be  this  as  it  may,  we 
see  that  there  is  evidently  an  advance  in 


TRUE  POSITION. 


231 


the  different  trades  and  their  branches, 
a more  intimate  relationship  between 
mind  and  the  labors  of  the  operator,  a 
-clearer  working  through  the  lights  of 
reason,  so  that,  even  among  the  inferior 
callings,  the  lamp  of  science  sheds  its 
rays,  even  if  it  is  seen  only  in  Hickerings 
from  the  distance  at  which  it  stands.  It 
has  been  said  that  all  men  have  their 
mental  affinities ; that  some  i)ass  un- 
heeded away,  without  having  left  any 
footprints  in  the  sand  of  time,”  only 
because  the  period  of  their  sojourning 
presented  no  occasions,  no  elective  inhu- 
ence  to  draw  out  their  energies  or  their 
talents,  while  the  great  are  but  the 
creatures  of  opportunity,  or  wdio,  having 
lieen  touched  by  the  Ithuriel  wand,  have 
sprung  out  into  light,  brightness,  and 
renown.  Opportunity  is  certainly  a 
great  ingredient  in  any  effort ; and  with- 
out it,  either  offered  or  acquired,  no 


232 


THE  mechanic’s 


voluntary  act  can  well  succeed.  The 
tanner  should  have  a thorough  knowl- 
edge of  chemistry ; and,  by  applying  his 
acquired  knowledge  to  the  branch  of 
industry  which  has  engaged  his  special 
attention,  he  makes  a good  leather 
manufacturer  and  becomes  a well- 
instructed  man  in  the  general  business 
of  life.  The  characteristic  traits  of  a 
man  are  also  elements  of  his  future ; but 
still  it  should  add  to  the  credit  of  the 
individual,  who,  cultivating  an  under- 
standing of  his  nature  and  his  latent 
abilities,  uses  them  to  advantage  in  that 
tide  in  the  affairs  of  men,  which,  taken 
at  the  flood,  leads  on  to  fortune.”  The 
time  was,  and  in  some  degree  still  is, 
when  reputation  in  honors  was  princi- 
pally founded  upon,  and  esteemed  for, 
distinction  in  literature,  the  fine  arts,  the 
emblazonments  of  wealth,  and  the  posi- 
tions which  they  respectively  gave.  The 


TRUE  POSITION. 


233 


rest,  like  hewei^  of  wood  and  drawers 
of  water  wlio  served  at  the  building  of 
Solomon’s  temple,  were  supposed  to  be 
sufficiently  compensated  by  the  daily 
penny  paid  for  their  labors.  No  mark 
or  memorial  was  left  upon  the  edifice  of 
their  works ; and,  except  in  the  narrow 
circle  of  their  industry,  none  knew  of 
their  labors  or  their  zeal.  In  the  gen- 
eral operations  of  the  society  of  the 
good  and  hardy  tanners,  it  is  not  to  be 
expected  that  the  mere  ordinary  com- 
ponents of  that  great  whole  shall  be 
held  in  any  special  remembrance,  either 
in  the  present  or  the  future.  Much  will 
be,  as  has  already  been,  done  by  the 
agency  of  those  very  qualities  in  placing 
honorable  occupation  of  labor  upon  the 
true  level  of  its  merits.  Tanner,  pause, 
and  accompany  me,  for  a moment,  to 
what  has  already  been  observed  relative 


234 


THE  mechanic’s 


to  labor  and  industry;  mark  out  tbe 
way,  and  forget  not  to  follow  it. 

The  end  crowns  the  work,  and  so  have 
the  good  results  of  labor  left  a crown 
upon  the  naine  more  endearing  to  the 
good  man  than  all  the  pomp  and  cir- 
cumstance that  power,  alone,  or  wealth 
could  purchase.  The  days  of  chivalry 
arising  from  the  power  of  kings  and 
nobles,  the  empires  of  war  and  victo- 
ries, crusades  of  faith,  and  the  necessary 
maintenance  of  the  followers  of  such 
errantries,  as  well  while  they  lasted  as 
in  “the  cankers  of  a long  peace,”  were 
the  beginnings  of  the  false  distinctions 
which  made  idleness  honorable  and  left 
industry  with  only  the  reward  of  its  own 
products.  It  takes  time  to  accomplish 
any  revolution  which  shall  be  of  perma- 
nent benefit ; and  it  is  proper  it  should 
be  so,  as  improvements  are  worked  out 
in  the  progress  of  experience  which 


TRUE  POSITION. 


235 


could  not  be  made  in  a leap  from  one 
condition  to  another.  The  doctrine  of  a 
necessity  for  useful  occupation  in  all  men 
is  a great  element  in  this  change.  Men 
do  not  begin  to  think  calmly  or  wisely 
in  the  turmoil  of  exciting  j)ursuits.  It 
is  only  when  they  are  falling  into  their 
proper  places  in  the  great  community^ 
and  putting  their  shoulder  to  the  wheel 
to  do  something  useful,  that  they  per- 
ceive their  relative  positions,  their  obli- 
gations, and  the  duties  which  belong  to 
them  as  integrants  of  the  whole.  It  is, 
therefore,  industry  which  is  the  ground- 
work of  reform,  both  moral  and  politi- 
cal ; it  is  the  basis  of  domestic  virtue, 
comfort,  and  plenty ; and  the  producer 
of  what  sustains  a nation  and  improves 
its  condition.  When  to  this  is  added 
education,  its  followers  are  the  support- 
ers of  man  in  all  his  conditions,  wants. 


t 


18* 


236 


THE  mechanic’s 


advances,  and  elegancies  of  life,  and  are 
the  safeguards  of  society. 

These  reflections  arise  spontaneously 
from  the  nature  of  the  subject  we  are 
discussing,  as  being  intimately  connected 
with  the  career  of  the  good  man,  re- 
claiming or  saving  from  time  what  would 
otherwise  be  lost.  If  it  be  creditable  to 
perpetuate  the  knowledge  of  the  deeds 
of  man  in  arms — of  wars  that  have  deso* 
lated  the  earth  and  left  misery  and  sighs 
to  be  felt  again  in  after  ages  by  those 
who  deprecate  and  sympathize  while 
they  read — ^how  much  more  worthy  an 
effort  is  it  to  record  in  imperishable 
form  the  good  civic  conduct  of  those 
unpretending  men  who  have  labored 
during  their  lives  for  the  common  weal, 
and  who  make,  in  every  field,  two 
blades  of  grass  grow  where  only  one 
grew  before  ? 


TRUE  POSITION. 


2S1 


In  the  world’s  broad  field  of  battle — 
In  the  bivouac  of  life — 

Be  not  like  the  driven  cattle ; 

Be  a hero  in  the  strife ! 

Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us, 

We  can  make  our  own  sublime, 
And,  departing,  leave  behind  us 
Footsteps  in  the  sand  of  time. 


Let  us,  then,  be  up  and  doing. 

With  a heart  for  any  tiite ; 

Still  achieving,  still  pursuing. 

Learn  to  labor  and  to  wait. 

%****%* 

It  belongs  to  you,  my  brother  me* 
chanic,  to  rise  in  the  world.  You  who 
are  willing  to  be  advised  by  those  who 
have  experience,  consult  the  wise  and 
good  and  profit  by  their  examples.  If 
you  would  succeed  in  life,  let  your  motto 
be  not  only  to  look  ahead,  but  go  ahead. 
Set  your  mark  high,  and  strive  to  reach 


238 


THE  mechanic’s 


it.  You  can  succeed  if  you  will  remem- 
ber, my  friends,  tbe  almost  omnipotent 
power  of  perseverance,  the  power  of 
industry  and  of  labor — you  who  are  just 
beginning  tbe  world — -that  fourteen  or 
sixteen  hours  a day  are  sure  to  foot  a 
good  account  and  seldom  need  an 
indorser.  “ Order  is  heaven’s  first  law,’^ 
and  the  Scripture  tells  us  to  “ Let  every- 
thing be  done  decently  and  in  order.”' 
The  man  of  method  is  generally  a suc- 
cessful man.  The  neglect  of  this  great 
principle  has  ruined  its  tens  of  thousands. 
An  excellent  rule  is.  Let  nothing  be  ne- 
glected that  can  be  done  to-day.  What- 
ever you  undertake,  pursue  it  steadily  if 
you  wish  to  succeed  ; for  wherever  there 
is  a will  there  is  a way  ; then  forget  not 
the  advice  of  the  wise  man,  ‘^And 
with  all  thy  getting  get  understanding.” 
Bear  in  mind  that  the  laboring  mechanic 
should  educate  his  head,  his  hands,  and 


TRUE  POSITION. 


239 


his  heart.  He  will,  thus  learn  to  distin- 
guish good  from  evil,  to  know  how  to 
supply  his  wants  and  add  to  his  com- 
forts, and  how  to  dispense  blessings  to 
all  around  him. 


TAKNEHS  BINGINU  T,IK  “XANNKUS’  GMXBIt,"  AUArr...  TO  TMK  TUNHOK  'n.K  M A ,=SKM.X  A ISK  HVMX, 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


THE  TANNERS’  CHEER. 


Award  of  cheer  to  the  hearty  tanner, 
And  a blessing  on  his  trade ; 

A leather  bough  shall  be  his  banner, 
Over  all  the  land  displayed. 

'Amid  the  forest-giant’s  winding. 

While  far  away  the  hunter’s  coil 
Round  the  wild  bull’s  neck  is  binding. 
He  marks  the  noblest  for  his  spoil. 

Work  on,  ye  Pitmen  all! 

And  let  the  hide  be  sound; 
Work  on!  joy  to  the  land 
Where  working-men  abound! 


244 


THE  TANNERS  CHEER. 


His  labor  gives  the  world  protection 
In  an  ever  changing  form, 

From  the  summer  sun’s  reflection 
And  the  winter’s  raging  storm. 

It  guards  the  tread  of  the  sturdy  yeoman, 
And  guides  his  plow-horse  over  the  mead ; 
It  adorns  th*j  lovely  foot  of  woman. 

And  reins  the  patriot’s  battle  steed. 

Work  on,  ye  Curriers  all ! 

And  let  the  beam  resound; 
Work  on  ! joy  to  the  land 
AVliere  working-men  abound! 


The  wit  and  lore  of  bygone  ages. 

His  labor  saves  from  swift  decay; 

It  guards  the  Bible’s  holy  pages. 

And  grasps  the  follies  of  the  day. 

It  aids  the  loom’s  bright  imitation 
By  turning  every  busy  wheel ; 

It  bears  the  stream  to  stay  the  conflagration, 
And  sheathes  the  warrior’s  flashing  steel. 


THE  tanners’  cheer. 


245 


Work  on,  ye  Tanners  all ! 

And  let  the  song  go  round', 
Work  on!  joy  to  the  land 
Where  working-men  abound ! 


See  illustration  in  front  of  this  chapter,  representing  a 
party  of  Tanners  singing  the  above  words. 


19 


I-T.ONT  VIEW  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  PATENT  OFFK  E,  WASHINGTON’, 


PATENT  GRANTED. 


251 


In  testimony  whereof,  I have  caused 
these  letters  to  be  made  patent,  and  the 
seal  of  the  Patent  Office  has  been 
hereunto  affixed.  Gr'en  under  my 
hand,  at  the  city  of  AVashington,  this 
fourteenth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of 
our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-seven,  and  of  the  independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America  the 
eighty-first. 

Jacob  Thompson, 
Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
[l.  s.]  S.  T.  Siiugert, 

Asst.  Comm’r  of  Patents. 

Countersigned,  and  sealed  with  the 
seal  of  the  Patent  Office. 


19* 


■ J 

'i 

■1 


• J 


■i 

1 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


COPY  OF  SPECIFICATION  OF  PATENT. 

THE  SCHEDULE  REFERRED  TO  IN  THESE 
LETTERS  PATENT,  AND  .AIAKING  PART 
OF  THE  SA^IE. 

To  all  to  lolioin  these  i:>resents  shall  come : 
Be  it  known  that  I,  David  II.  Ken- 
nedy, formerly  of  Reading,  in  the  county 
of  Berks,  but  now  of  New  Alexandria, 
in  the  county  of  Westmoreland,  and 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  have  invented  or 
discovered  certain  new  and  useful  com- 
positions of  matter  to  be  used  in  the 
tanning  of  leather ; and  the  following  is 


254 


COPY  OF 


a full,  clear,  and  exact  description  of 
the  manner  of  preparing  and  using  the 
same: 

This  composition  consists  of 

pounds  of or  of ; 

pounds  of of ; pounds 

of  of  or  of 

; ...  pound  of of ; 

. . . pounds  of ( of  . . . .)  ; 

. . . pound  of  or  ; 

These  ingredients  should  he  dissolved 
separately  in  hot  water,  or  in  a hot 
decoction  of  tan  bark,  which  is  prefera- 
ble, and  then  poured  into  a tank,  and 
thoroughly  stirred  together  to  form  the 
tanning  liquor,  which  may  be  drawn  off 
as  required,  to  supply  the  vats  or  vessels 
in  which  the  hides  are  to  be  tanned. 

The  tanning  liquor  thus  formed  in  the 
tank  is  in  the  most  concentrated  form, 
and  only  suitable  to  apply  to  hides  in 
the  advanced  stages  of  the  tanning  pro- 


SPECIFICATION  OF  PATENT. 


255 


cess',  and  must  be  largely  diluted  with 
water  or  bark-water  before  it  is  applied 
to  bides  at  tbe  commencement  of  tins 
process ; or  else,  before  applying  it  to 
such  bides,  it  should  be  partially  spent 
by  having  bad  bides  in  a more  advanced 
state  steeped  in  it. 

Tbe  strength  of  tbe  licpior  should  be 
increased  as  tbe  tanning  progresses, — 
care  being  taken  to  handle  tbe  bides  fre- 
quently in  tbe  early  jiart  of  tbe  process, 
while  tbe  liquor  is  weak  ; but  less  hand- 
ling will  do  as  tbe  process  advances. 
Hides  intended  for  sole-leather  may 
(near  tbe  close  of  tbe  process)  be  laid 
down  in  a vat,  alternately  with  layers  of 
ground  bark,  and  then  a liquor,  com- 
posed of  three  parts  of  tbe  composition 
before  mentioned  and  one  part  of  strong 
bark  liquor,  should  be  poured  into  tbe 
vat  until  it  covers  the  bides.  Hides 
thus  laid  down  may  continue  undis» 


256 


COPY  OF 


turbed  until  fully  tanned — say  from  ten 
to  fifteen  days.  Light  skins  need  not  be 
laid  down,  as  they  will  be  tkorougbly 
tanned  by  merely  handling  in  the  liquor. 

Hides  will  be  tanned  by  this  process 
quickly  or  slowly,  according  to  the 
amount  of  handling  and  the  strength  of 
the  tanning  liquor.  When  a tan-yard 
has  become  impregnated  thoroughly 
with  the  chemicals  employed,  the  tan- 
ning will  be  performed  with  less  expense 
than  at  first,  the  quality  of  the  leather 
will  be  noticeably  improved,  and  the 
time  required  for  tanning  diminished. 

When  the  before  mentioned  tanning 
coinf)ound  is  employed  with  hemlock 
bark,  in  the  proportion  of  fifteen  pounds 
of  the  compound  to  about  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  cubic  feet  of  the  bark, 
the  leather  produced  will  have  the  color, 
pliancy,  and  other  desirable  qualities  of 
the  best  oak-tanned  leather.  In  this 


SPECIFICATION  OF  PATENT. 


257 


way  the  expense  of  oak-tanned  leather 
will  be  greatly  reduced,  while  the  quality 
will  be  fully  maintained. 

What  I claim  as  my  invention,  and 
desire  to  secure  by  letters  patent,  is 

the  combination  of , the  

of  .... , of , or  

of  , and  of  , . . . , 

, or  , , dissolved 

in  water  or  tan-bark  liquor,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  tanning  hides  and  skins  substan- 
tially as  herein  set  forth. 

In  testimony  whereof  I liave  hereunto 
subscribed  my  name. 


David  II.  Kennedy. 


David  Bedford, 
James  B.  Dltnn, 


j-  Witnesses. 


r. 

0 


INDEX. 


Pack. 

Advantages  of  tliis  Process 32 

American  Ox-liides 41 

African  Hides 45 

African  Skins Cl 

Albumen,  nature  of Cl 

Puenos  Ayres  Hides 38 

Ilrazilian  Hides 39 

Bull-liides 41 

Heam-liouse 81 

Hating 01 

Census — Tanning  Interest  in  1855 22 

Capitalists,  Facts  and  Estimates  for 28 

Cow-hides 40 

Calcutta,  or  Nagore  Hides 40 

Calf-skins 48 

Chemistry  Defined 97 

Clinton  Tannery { 195 


20 


2G0 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Copy  of  Patent 249 

Copy  of  Specification 253 

Dcpilation,  Rationale  of 15 

Domestic  or  Slauglitcrcd  Hides 44 

Deer-skins 54 

Epidermis 62 

Example  of  Tanning  One  Hundred  Calf-skins,  121 
Example  of  Tanning  Ox-liidcs  for  Patent 

Leather 133 

Example  of  Tanning  Sole-leather 149 

France — Its  Trade  in  Leather 19 

Fihrinc,  Nature  of 02 

Goat-skins 51 

Gelatine,  Mulder’s  View  of 65 

Grained  Leather 178 

Hair,  Primitive  Mode  of  Removing 15 


Hides  Suitable  for  Tanning,  35 — Buenos  Ayres, 

38 — Brazilian,  39 — Large  Ox,  40 — Bull,  41 
— From  Diseased  Carcass,  43 — Frauds  in 
Sale  of,  43 — Domestic  Slaughtered,  44 — 
California,  44 — Spanish  and  African,  45 — 
Nagore,  46 — Yearlings,  45 — Horse,  51 — 
Mode  of  Salting,  55 — Washing  and  Soaking,  69 


INDEX. 


261 


Page. 

Ingredients  Used  in  Tanning,  95 — Properties 


and  Prices  of 99 

Lime,  Use  of,  in  Tanning,  15 — Its  Effects  on 

Hides,  87 — Its  Antiseptic  Properties 88 

Liquor  for  Coloring  and  Graining 122 


Leather,  Statistics  of,  22 — Egyptian  Workers 
of,  14 — Steps  in  Manufacture  of,  14 — Cur- 
rying and  Finishing  of,  167 — Shaving,  168 
— Harness,  176 — Blacked  Bridle,  177 — 
Russet  Bridle,  178 — Horse,  178 — Wax,  178 
— Grained,  178 — Patent,  179 — Texture  and 
Quality  of,  185 — Bloomed,  190 — Examina- 
tion of,  192 — Its  Antiquity,  206 — Manufac- 


ture of 207 

Madagascar  Hides 45 

Mechanics,  True  Position  of 217 

Method,  One  Year’s  Work  by  Old,  28 — By 
New,  29 — Advantages  of  New,  32 — Saving 
by  New 32 

Nagore  Ox 46 

Ox-hides  for  Patent  Leather 133 

Patent  Leather,  Hides  Used  for 44 


262 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Sir  Hnmplirey  Davy  and  Others,  Investiga- 
tions of 16 

Skins,  Calf,  48 — Goat,  51 — Sheep,  52 — Deer, 

54 — Composition  of,  59 — African,  61 — Li- 
quor for  Coloring  and  Graining 122 

Spanish  Hides 45 

Salting  Hides 55 

Splitting-machine 141 

Tannery,  Clinton 195 

Tannin,  Mulder’s  Opinion  of,  65 — Affinity  with 

Gluten 66 

Tanning,  Antiquity  of,  14 — How  Effected,  17 
— Advantages  of  Patent  Process  of,  26 — In- 
gredients Used  in,  95 — Composition  for,  109 
— Composition  No.  2 110 

Unhairing,  Composition  for,  81 — Drawbacks 
on  the  Old  Plan,  87 — Remarks  on 195 

Work  by  Old  Method,  28 — By  New 29 

Water,  the  Influence  of  its  Quality  in  Tanning, 

75 — Rain  the  Purest 77 

Yearlings,  Hides  of  Neat . 45 


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